Gamry FlexCell User manual

Flexcell Cell Kit
Operator’s Manual

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 this 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.

Flexcell Kit
Operator’s Manual
Copyright 1997−2017 Gamry Instruments, Inc.
Part No. 990-00121
Revision 4.11
November 30, 2017

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 contact us via email using the link provided on our website. Alternatively, you can contact us one of
the following ways:
Internet www.gamry.com/service-support/
Telephone [phone]:00 AM - 5:00 PM US Eastern Standard Time
[phone] 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
Flexcell Operator’s Manual copyright 1997−2017 Gamry Instruments, Inc.
The names Flexcell, TDC2, TDC4, Gamry Framework, PC4, PCi4, Series G, and Reference 600 are all
trademarks of Gamry Instruments, Inc.
Tygon is a registered trademark of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp.
Thermo Scientific is a trademark of Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Velcro®and Velcro®design are registered trademarks of Velcro BVBA.
Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.
Viton®is a registered trademark of The Chemours Company.
ACE-Thred™ is a trademark of Ace Glass, Inc.
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of
Gamry Instruments, Inc.

Table of Contents
Limited Warranty...........................................................................................................................2
If You Have Problems ....................................................................................................................4
Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................1-1
Chapter 2: Metal Specimens ..........................................................................................................2-1
Chapter 3: Unpacking and Assembling Your Flexcell Kit .................................................................3-1
Checking for Shipping Damage .........................................................................................3-1
Checking Parts against the Packing List ..............................................................................3-4
Assemble the cell. .............................................................................................................3-4
Install the Bottom Cap –Leg. ...............................................................................3-4
Assemble the Sample Holder. ..............................................................................3-5
Install the Bottom-Cap Fittings..............................................................................3-5
Install the Cooling Coil .........................................................................................3-7
Attach the Glass Dome to the Cell........................................................................3-7
Complete the Reference Well Assembly. ..............................................................3-8
Test the Partially Assembled Cell for Leaks.........................................................................3-9
Install the Drip Tube. ...........................................................................................3-9
Test for Leaks.......................................................................................................3-10
Chapter 4: Routine Use of the Flexcell ...........................................................................................4-1
Introduction......................................................................................................................4-1
Fittings in the Glass dome .................................................................................................4-1
Counter Electrode................................................................................................4-1
Gas Bubbler.........................................................................................................4-1
Top-mounted reference ball joint.........................................................................4-1
Thermometer ......................................................................................................4-1
Reference Electrode.............................................................................................4-1
Install the Metal Specimen. ...............................................................................................4-2
De-ionized Water System Installation ................................................................................4-3
Filling the Cell with Electrolyte ..........................................................................................4-3
Emptying the Cell..............................................................................................................4-4
Heating Jacket Installation .................................................................................................4-4
Stirrer Installation..............................................................................................................4-5
Electrode Connections ......................................................................................................4-6

Controlling the De-ionized Water Flow Rate .....................................................................4-6
Heating, Cooling, and Stirring ...........................................................................................4-7
Temperature-control via the Cooling Coil.............................................................4-7
Temperature-control via an External Heating Jacket..............................................4-7
Usage at High Temperatures ................................................................................4-8
Usage at Low Temperatures .................................................................................4-8
Temperature Gradients within the Cell.................................................................4-8
Electrolyte Deaeration.......................................................................................................4-9
Electrode Area ..................................................................................................................4-9
Chapter 5: Accessory Equipment....................................................................................................5-1
Critical Pitting Test Systems ...............................................................................................5-1
Heaters.............................................................................................................................5-1
Introduction.........................................................................................................5-1
Modification of the Heater Cord for Use with the TDC2.......................................5-2
Using the Heating Jackets.....................................................................................5-3
Stirrer ...............................................................................................................................5-3
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting ...........................................................................................................6-1
Appendix A: Specifications.............................................................................................................7-1
Index.............................................................................................................................................8-1

Chapter 1: Introduction--Checking for Shipping Damage
1 - 1
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Flexcell is used to perform electrochemical tests on flat metal specimens. Unlike traditional cells, the
crevice-free cell avoids localized corrosion at the seal between the sample and its holder. Following a design
popularized by Avesta Steel, the cell uses a flooded-gasket seal. This simple, yet elegant, design results in an
easy-to-use, reliable, crevice-free system.
Figure 1 is an expanded, cross-sectional diagram of the cell in the area of the flooded seal.
Figure 1
Cross-section of the Flooded Seal
As in conventional cells, the active area of the test specimen is in contact with an electrolyte. Unlike other cells,
the active area of the test specimen is not bounded by a plastic barrier or O-ring.
De-ionized water is slowly forced through a fiber washer placed on the test-solution-side of the metal sample
being tested. After passing through the washer, the water diffuses into the electrolyte. The fluid in the fiber
washer is nearly pure deionized water, which is not conductive enough to support corrosion processes. Thus,
instead of a plastic barrier with its resultant crevice, a conductivity gradient between the electrolyte and the
deionized water defines the test specimen’s active area.
The Flexcell components were selected to be as chemically inert as possible. In normal use, the only materials
in contact with the test solution are glass, filter paper, and PTFE. The cell is therefore usable with a wide variety
of test solutions, including non-aqueous media.

--Checking for Shipping Damage
1 - 2

Chapter 2: Metal Specimens--Checking for Shipping Damage
2 - 1
Chapter 2: Metal Specimens
A commercial source for suitable flat metal specimens is Metal Samples Co., Inc. Their P/N CO0130 series
works well.
The dimensions of this part are 2" × 2" × 1∕8" (approximately 5 cm × 5 cm × 0.31 cm). Metal Samples offers
the CO0130 series in several hundred different metals. When ordering, make sure that you append a metal
code to the part number. For example, the full part number for a cell specimen made from 316 Stainless Steel
is CO0130-316.
Metal Samples Co., Inc. can be contacted at:
Metal Samples Co., Inc.
152 Metal Samples Road
P.O. Box 8
Munford, AL 36268 USA
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
You can also make your own specimens. The specimen must be flat, and sufficiently smooth so that an O-ring
can make a leak-free seal to the metal. The minimum specimen size is a square 4 cm on a side. Smaller
specimens will not seal on the O-ring outside of the fiber washer.
Metal specimens that are 3.2 mm (1∕8inch) or thicker can be mounted on the cell without any sample support.
They are held in place with a metal thumbscrew. You can also use this thumbscrew to make electrical contact
with the specimen.
Thin specimens require a support that prevents distortion as the thumbscrew is tightened. The minimum
specimen thickness is 0.8 mm (1∕32 inch).
On thin metal samples, we recommend that you bend one corner at a right angle to the rest of the specimen.
Electrical contact is made with this bent tab on the sample. The thumbscrew cannot be used to make contact,
because the sample support is made from electrically insulating plastic (metal would be too thermally
conductive).

Chapter 2: Metal Specimens--Checking for Shipping Damage
2 - 2