A two-dimensional axisymmetric model is developed to study the hydrogen absorption reaction and resultant mass and heat transport phenomena inside a metal hydride canister. The model is compared against published literature and experimental data. Experimental tests are performed on an in-house fabricated setup using different cooling scenarios. An extensive study on the effects of the metal properties on charging performance is carried out through non-destructive testing (NDT). Results show that the properties that most influence the charging performance are: absorption rate constant (C-a), activation energy (E-a) and thermal conductivity (k(m)). A Higher porosity (epsilon) reduces charging time and amount of hydrogen stored while a higher cooling level produces a faster charging process. These results can be used to select metal hydride materials but also to estimate the metal hydride internal state and the process can be used for future evaluation of metal hydride degradation. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.