Gamry Instruments PTC1 User manual

PTC1

Paint Test Cell Kit

Operator’s Manual

Revision 2.1

September 15, 2017

900-00057

Limited Warranty

Gamry Instruments, Inc. warrants to the original user of this product that it shall be free of defects resulting from

faulty manufacture of the product or its components for a period of one year from the original shipment date of

your purchase.

Gamry Instruments, Inc. makes no warranties regarding either the satisfactory performance of the cell kit or the

fitness of the product for any particular purpose. The remedy for breach of this Limited Warranty shall be

limited solely to repair or by replacement, as determined by Gamry Instruments, Inc., and shall not include

other damages.

Gamry Instruments, Inc. reserves the right to make revisions to the product at any time without incurring any

obligation to install same on systems previously purchased. All product specifications are subject to change

without notice.

There are no warranties which extend beyond the description herein. This warranty is in lieu of, and excludes

any and all other warranties or representations, expressed, implied or statutory, including merchantability and

fitness, as well as any and all other obligations or liabilities of Gamry Instruments, Inc., including but not limited

to, special or consequential damages.

This Limited Warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have others which vary from state to state.

Some states do not allow for the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages.

No person, firm, or corporation is authorized to assume for Gamry Instruments, Inc., any additional obligation

or liability not expressly provided herein except in writing duly executed by an officer of Gamry Instruments,

Inc.

If You Have Problems

Please visit our service and support page at www.gamry.com/service-support/.

This page contains information on installation, software updates, and training. It also contains links to the latest

available documentation. If you are unable to locate the information you need from our website, you can

of the telephone numbers listed below:

Tech support form www.gamry.com/service-support/contact-technical-support/

Telephone (215) 682-9330 9:00 AM–5:00 PM US Eastern Standard Time

(877) 367-4267 Toll-free US & Canada Only

Replacement parts for this kit are available from Gamry Instruments, Inc. Optional parts may be available from

Gamry Instruments, or from third-party vendors. Contact your local Gamry sales representative to discuss any

special requirements or accessories that you need.

Disclaimer

The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate as of the time of

printing. However, Gamry Instruments, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors that might appear.

Copyrights and Trademarks

Paint Test Cell Kit manual copyright 1999–2017 Gamry Instruments, Inc.

3M is a trademark of 3M.

No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of

Gamry Instruments, Inc.

iii

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................4

Unpacking and Checking a Cell Kit ..............................................................................................5

Checking for Shipping Damage .......................................................................................5

Parts List ........................................................................................................................5

Assembly of the Cell Top.............................................................................................................6

Important notes..............................................................................................................6

Procedure......................................................................................................................6

Requirements for Metal Samples..................................................................................................7

Chemical Compatibility ...............................................................................................................7

Cell Setup...................................................................................................................................8

Working Electrode Area...............................................................................................................8

PortHole™ Electrochemical Sample Masks ...................................................................................9

Maintenance...............................................................................................................................10

Replacement Parts..........................................................................................................10

Reference Electrode Maintenance...................................................................................10

Index..........................................................................................................................................11

Introduction

The Gamry Instruments’PTC1 Paint Test Cell kit is a simple, inexpensive cell used for electrochemical

corrosion testing. This cell was originally developed by Dr. Richard Granata of Lehigh University.

The PTC1 was designed for electrochemical-impedance testing of flat, coated metal specimens. It can also be

used for testing corrosion of bare metal samples in highly conductive media.

The PTC1 is not recommended for testing bare metals in more resistive solutions.

Unpacking and Checking a Cell Kit

This section is primarily intended for the user who has just received a new Paint Test Cell Kit.

Checking for Shipping Damage

Your new kit was shipped disassembled to minimize shipping damage. All of the pieces were carefully

packaged in anticipation of rough handling in shipment. Unfortunately, no matter how carefully glass pieces are

packaged, damage sometimes occurs.

When you first receive your kit, please check it for any signs of shipping damage. Be especially careful if the

shipping container shows signs of rough handling.

Obviously, the glass piece is the most susceptible to damage. Check the glass piece for chipping and small

cracks as well as for major damage.

If any parts were broken in shipment, please take a photograph and contact our USA facility or your local

Gamry representative as soon as possible. In most cases, Gamry should have replacement parts in stock. Please

retain the shipment’s packaging material for a possible claim against the shipping company.

Parts List

Please check the contents of your kit versus the packing list in Table 1. When shipped, all of the components

should be labeled with their Gamry part number. If you are checking the completeness of an older kit, most of

the components are shown in photographs throughout this manual.

Table 1

Parts in Paint Test Cell Kit PTC1

Quantity

Part Number

Description

930-00026

Cell Body, PTC1, with O-ring

935-00035

Stopper, Rubber, PTC1

935-00036

Clamp, PTC1, Ace 7669-18

935-00039

PTC1 Base assembly

935-00014

Graphite Rod, 8 mm × 6" (half of 935-03)

935-00049

PortHole™ electroplating tape, 1 cm2

935-00050

PortHole™ electroplating tape, 3 cm2

935-00051

PortHole™ electroplating tape, 10 cm2

Warning: Never use any glass parts that are chipped or cracked. Any damage to glass

increases the probability of additional damage. Broken glass can have extremely sharp edges that represent

a significant safety hazard. Injuries from broken glass can be quite severe.

Assembly of the Cell Top

This section tells you how to assemble the top of the cell.

Important notes

•Lubricate the reference electrode with water before inserting it into the top.

•Grasp the electrode as near to the stopper as possible and twist the electrode as you are inserting it.

•When inserting the electrodes, hold the stopper between your thumb and your first finger.

•Double-check that you insert each electrode into its correct hole.

Procedure

1. Locate the rubber stopper. Notice that the holes in the stopper have different diameters.

2. Gently push the graphite counter electrode into the smaller of the two holes in the top.

3. Insert the counter electrode until approximately 5 cm of the electrode extends below the top.

4. Wet the outside of the reference electrode with a few drops of water.

5. Gently push the reference electrode into the larger of the two holes in the top.

Insert the reference electrode until approximately 5 cm of the electrode extends below the top.

Warning: The reference and counter electrodes can break during this procedure. If you are

not careful, a broken electrode can pierce your hand. Broken glass can have extremely sharp edges that

represent a significant safety hazard. Injuries from broken glass can be quite severe.

Warning: Do not place your palm under the stopper.

Requirements for Metal Samples

If you use a rectangular metal sample, it must measure at least 6 cm on each side. The sample must be flat

enough that a water-tight O-ring seal can be made.

The area to be tested must be within 2 cm of one of the edges on the sample. If it is farther away, the clamp

cannot hold the cell onto the sample.

The minimum sample thickness depends on the type of metal. Generally about 0.05 mm is a useful minimum

thickness. Samples between 7 mm and 15 mm thick require testing without the base.

Painted samples must have an area outside of the cell free from paint. This area is used to make electrical

contact with the sample.

Chemical Compatibility

The O-ring used in this cell is made from an ethylene/propylene elastomer. The top is made from a carbon-

filled natural rubber. These materials are not universally chemically resistant. They should give acceptable

performance with dilute acids, bases, and chloride salts.

We do not recommend use of the PTC1 with strong acids and bases, oxidizing or reducing

agents, or organic solvents. Gamry Instruments is not responsible for damage caused to the cell, your

laboratory, or your person by use of the PTC1 with an incompatible test solution.

Cell Setup

1. Test your thin samples in a setup that includes the PTC1 base (a polypropylene block equipped with

four rubber feet). Place a sample on the side of the base without the feet.

2. Place the cell body on top of the sample, making sure that the O-ring fits in the groove on the cell

body. This O-ring makes a watertight seal between the cell body and the sample.

3. With the clamp, affix the glass to the base. Use

the knurled knob on the cell clamp to

compress the O-ring.

4. Fill the cell with the test solution (approximately 40 mL of solution).

5. Place the top, with the reference and counter electrode already in place, on the cell. Make sure that

the protective cap is removed from the reference electrode. With the top lightly pressed into the cell

body, you should have a watertight seal.

6. Before making the connections to the test instrument, check that the cell is not leaking from the O-ring

seal. After you are sure the cell is not leaking, connect the test instrument. The metal sample is used as

the working electrode.

Working Electrode Area

The area of the sample exposed to the test solution varies somewhat because of variation in the compression in

the O-ring and variation in the glass cell body. Gamry Instruments measured the active area to be nominally

14.6 cm2. At worst, the actual area should be within ±5% of this value.

Table of contents

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