The CANDHy project presented the results of its Round Robin (RR) test at the European Hydrogen Energy Conference 2026. Lidia Martínez Izquierdo, R&D Coordinator at the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation, showcased the main outlines of the tests, which are key to developing individual tests that will shed light on hydrogen’s effects on materials within the CANDHy study.
First, the roles of the project partners in conducting the Round Robin tests were defined, with SIDSA serving as the manufacturer of new materials and collector of old materials, and RINA being responsible for preparing the samples and analysing them after the tests. The tests were conducted at RINA’s, NaTran, the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation, and Tecnalia facilities. Next, the materials used and selected for the Round Robin test were specified, and 132 specimens were tested.
Two types of materials were tested in the RR: vintage ductile iron (Spool 1 and Spool 3) and new ductile iron (ID1 and ID2). Tests included Slow Strain Rate Tests, fracture toughness measurements, C-ring stress tests, and CT-WOL/ KIH crack growth tests.
These testing methods provide reliable, reproducible results for assessing hydrogen compatibility in gas distribution materials. CANDHy will foster the use of existing gas distribution grids to deliver hydrogen and natural gas blends, through assessment of the impact on infrastructure and material integrity.
