Next-Generation Sealing Technology Supporting a Hydrogen Society Presented at International Symposium: Reporting on the Achievements of a Collaborative International Research Project Involving Japanese and German Industry, Academia, and Government

NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Group CEO: Masao Tsuru, hereinafter "NOK") co-hosted the international symposium "Sustainable Sealing Materials for Hydrogen" on May 12, 2026 (Tue) in a hybrid format at the BAM Berlin venue and online, together with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) (Note 1) of Germany, Kyushu University, and the Freudenberg Group (Germany).

A total of 75 experts from industry, academia, and government, both domestic and international, participated in the symposium (approximately 21 from Japan). The symposium focused on the achievements of the international collaborative research project "Sustainable and Hydrogen-Compatible Sealing Materials for Safe H2 Supply Networks" (Abbreviation: SusSeal4H2) (Note 2), in which the aforementioned four institutions participated. Diverse presentations and discussions were held, covering tribology technology and next-generation sealing materials for the realization of a hydrogen society, from market needs to academic evaluation.

As one of the hosts, NOK presented its development achievements for sealing materials for hydrogen infrastructure, lifecycle assessment (LCA) evaluations, and the current state of sustainability in Japan's rubber industry. In the discussion following the presentations, the current situation was shared where investment by raw material manufacturers in environmental measures is concentrated on tires, leading to delays in the development and distribution of special rubber fields such as sealing materials essential for hydrogen infrastructure. On the other hand, it was concluded that since there are many common technical challenges for rubber products regardless of their application field, the participation of sealing manufacturers led by initiatives like "SusSeal4H2" and achieving results is extremely significant in accelerating the sustainability of the entire industry.

Based on the knowledge gained from this project and symposium, NOK will continue to focus on research and technological development in the field of hydrogen sealing to achieve carbon neutrality.

Key Presentations and Achievements on the Day

Following an overview of the project, the symposium addressed a wide range of themes related to next-generation sealing materials supporting hydrogen infrastructure, including future prospects and market needs for hydrogen infrastructure, development of sealing materials, and tribological property evaluation under hydrogen environments. NOK presented the following two themes as specific achievements in material development supporting the future hydrogen society and as proposals for improving industry sustainability:

1) "Development of Sustainable Sealing Materials with Hydrogen Compatibility and Environmental Impact Assessment"

(Presenter: Ayako Aoyagi, Tribology Research Section, Technical Research Department, NOK Group R&D)

To achieve both durability that withstands harsh hydrogen environments and low environmental impact, a characteristic map covering the properties of various rubber and resin materials was constructed. Utilizing this characteristic map, a technology was established for efficiently designing optimal materials and manufacturing processes for hydrogen infrastructure seals. By identifying the main CO2 emission factors in the manufacturing process through LCA evaluation, specific CO2 reduction approaches from the material manufacturing stage became possible, and technological achievements leading to reduced environmental impact across the entire hydrogen supply chain were presented.

2) "Current Status and Outlook of Sustainability Activities in Japan's Rubber Industry"

(Presenter: Takeya Aoki, Tribology Research Section, Technical Research Department, NOK Group R&D)

Based on domestic survey data, it was pointed out that while cutting-edge initiatives such as recycling and biomass utilization are progressing in the tire sector of Japan's automotive industry, technical and legal challenges remain in establishing recycling systems for non-tire products such as seals. In response to these challenges, the path towards reducing environmental impact in the special rubber field was shown by presenting specific examples of material technologies that enable longer product life and recycling of sealing materials. Furthermore, international collaboration among industry, academia, and government was proposed as a means to overcome these hurdles and improve sustainability in the rubber industry.

Background and Objectives of the Symposium

Towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, advanced sealing technologies capable of withstanding cryogenic and high-pressure environments are required at all four stages of the hydrogen supply chain – "production," "storage," "transportation," and "utilization" – which is expected to be a next-generation energy source. This symposium was held with the aim of widely disseminating research results on next-generation sustainable sealing materials and deepening global discussions.

※1 Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM): A federal research institution under the direct supervision of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, aimed at improving safety and reliability in materials science and chemical technology.

※2 SusSeal4H2: A project that promoted the development of next-generation sealing technologies supporting hydrogen infrastructure through collaboration among Japanese and German industry, academia, and government, with support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP, Grant Number: JPMJSC2121) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BAMFTR, Project Number: 01DR23001).

BAM (left) and Kyushu University (right), which served as major bases for the collaborative research.

Inquiries Regarding This Release

NOK Corporation, CEO Office, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Communications Department TEL: 03-5405-6372 Mail: mb_nok_corporate_affairs@jp.nokgrp.com

About NOK Corporation

Under the banner of "Essential Core Manufacturing - Manufacturing that supports essential core areas of society," the NOK Group supports "safety" and "comfort" that form the foundation of an affluent society. With approximately 38,000 employees in 15 countries and regions, we achieve product development based on accumulated fundamental research and high-quality mass and stable production. We continue to provide technologies and products to all industrial fields, including mobility such as automobiles, electronic devices represented by PCs and smartphones, medical and healthcare equipment, industrial robots, and artificial satellites.