Platinum Electrodes

Platinum Electrodes

For quantitative electro-chemical analysis in laboratories, Platinum Electrodes of various types are used. Generally, Electrodes are made of platinum 10% Iridium alloy for added mechanical strength which ensure long period of trouble free service. Electrode cylinders are usually made of wire gauze having wire diameter 0.15 mm * 360 mesh per cm2. This provides greater surface than area equal weight of plain or perforated platinum sheet and allows the electrolyte to circulate much more freely. Wherever agitation of electrolyte is required in order to save time of deposition, one of the rotating type of electrode is used.

For most electro-chemical analysis, wire gauze cathode is most satisfactory while a small size of similar anode is used if an anode deposit is required.

A simple helix of wire with stem is an adequate anode where there is no anodic deposit or when determining is not more than 0.2 percent lead as lead peroxide.

If desired, we can manufacture Platinum 10% Iridium electrodes to customers’own specifications to meet their special needs.

A word of caution or care and maintenance of electrodes, more particularly wire gauze electrodes which are quite delicate compared to other Platinum ware.

• Vigorous shaking should be avoided.
• After electrolysis and weightments, the deposits are removed by dissolving in single acids without any damage to the electrodes.
• Before re-use the electrodes should be cleaned with distilled water followed with drying around 100 C.
• When determining Zinc, tin, lead, cadmium or mercury content by cathodic deposition, a prior electro deposit of copper or silver is recommended to avoid alloying with platinum.

Electrodes

Based on original design by Fischer, the following electrodes are used in stirred or unstirred electrolytes. The coil type (helical) anode is used when no anodic deposition is required or when determining less than 0.2 percent lead as lead peroxide.

Platinum Electrodes Ilustrated below are similar to Fischer type. The Cathode has straight stem without rings over it. Whenever agitation of electrolyte is required in order save time of deposition, anode RH 105 is used. When there is no anodic deposition required, coil type anode RH 106 is used.

Wire Gauze cathode RH 107 shown in the picture can be employed for both stirred and unstirred solutions and can be used alongwith coil type ( helical ) anode RH 103 or RH 106.

The Paddle-type electrode is most economical type of effective rotating anode which could be used along with RH 101, RH 104 or RH 107.