MultiPort Corrosion Cell Kit

Overview

The MultiPort™ Corrosion Cell is the workhorse of a corrosion lab, accommodating 1 L standards testing. The two-piece design allows you to insert oversized samples in the cell, and makes it compatible with the Flat Specimen Holder. The MultiPort™ top has 7 variable use ports. In the normal cell configuration these ports are used as follows:

• One central 24/40 ground glass joint for a working electrode (corrosion sample)
• One SJ 28/15 ball joint paired with an adapter for a Luggin capillary/bridge tube for use with Gamry’s SCE, Ag/AgCl, and Hg/Hg₂SO₄ reference electrodes (electrodes ordered separately)
• One or two Ace-Thread port(s) for counter electrode(s)
• One 24/40 ground glass joint for gas purging/blanketing (an adapter is supplied)
• Additional: one 24/40 ground glass joint and one or two #7 Ace-Thread port(s) usable for temperature sensing, reagent addition, gas venting, etc.

The Ace-Threads allow for vertical adjustment to accommodate a wide range of sample volumes. Vertical adjustment combines with the ball joint to make sure your Reference Electrode Bridge Tube is placed close to the surface of your corrosion sample. The Bubbler has one position for deaeration and another for blanketing.

The cell kit includes one 30 cm (12 in.) graphite rod counter, but some standards specify two counter electrodes. The cell design has two #7 ports located 180° and in-line with the center port. This produces an opposed geometry to normalize current density on the working electrode. This is more important with higher currents and/or more resistive solutions.

Common electrochemical setups will leave 2-3 ports available to allow other experimental needs (condenser, stirring, in-situ imaging, solution adjustments, etc.). 

The cell top and cell bottom are firmly secured by a clamp. A PTFE-coated silicone O-Ring insures a leak-free and contamination-free connection.

The standard working electrode assembly used in the MultiPort™ is described in ASTM G5 -- a cylindrical sample that is drilled-and-tapped with a 3-48 UNC thread. The working electrode is screwed onto the support rod. A PTFE compression gasket insures a leak-free seal. The depth of the working electrode in the MultiPort™ is adjustable, allowing easy orientation of the working electrode and the reference electrode bridge tube.

Working electrodes for the MultiPort™ can be fabricated in your lab, or purchased in virtually any material from Metal Samples (which specializes in corrosion coupons).

Recommended Uses

Corrosion Standards Testing

This is what the MultiPort™ Corrosion Cell Kit was designed for and what it does best. The optional jacket is an added benefit.

Studies With Oversized Sample/Apparatus

The two-piece design of the MultiPort™ allows for far more flexibility in terms of what size and shape objects can be put into it. If it can fit in the mouth of the base, then you can set it up in solution. We have available a flat specimen holder that fits into this category (though unless you have specific need one of our other flat cells may work better).

Problematic Electrolytes

High viscosity and non-Newtonian fluids can be a filling and clean up nightmare. The two-piece construction again comes to the rescue. The ability to remove the top makes filling and cleaning difficult electrolytes much easier.

Extra Apparatus

Electrochemical testing involves three electrodes (sometimes four), and often a gas input for bubbling and blanketing. This means that even a basic echem cell needs 4 ports. Experiments that require extra monitoring or additional electrodes or anything else often mean custom cells. The MultiPort™ Corrosion Cell has 7 ports. One of the spares is a large 24/40 taper joint, and the others are narrow but highly versatile Ace-Threads.

• MultiPort Electrochemical Cell Kit User's Manual
• Flat Specimen Holder User's Manual (option for MultiPort Electrochemical Cell Kit)
• Flat Specimen Holder Data Sheet (optional part for the MultiPort Cell Kit)