Mechanical Testing Services for Palladium-Silver Hydrogen Purification Membranes

This procurement seeks a qualified supplier to perform comprehensive mechanical testing on palladium-silver membrane assemblies for hydrogen purification applications in the STEP fuel cycle. The supplier must provide specialized laboratory facilities, equipment, and expertise to conduct slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) testing and strain-controlled fatigue testing at elevated temperatures (400-500°C) in pressurized hydrogen environments (up to 10 bar). Testing may include in-situ hydrogen permeation assessments before and during mechanical loading to evaluate membrane performance under operational conditions. The supplier will be responsible for all data collection, analysis, and reporting, delivering comprehensive reports that include test methodology, raw and processed data, detailed analysis, observations, and conclusions suitable for engineering design decisions. All work must be performed in appropriately equipped facilities capable of safely handling elevated temperatures and pressurized hydrogen, following industry standards and quality assurance protocols with full traceability. The testing results will generate critical mechanical property data to support the development, qualification, and future commercial deployment of palladium-silver membrane technology for hydrogen purification.