Technical Note: Syringe Cell for Electrochemical Testing

A very simple electrochemical cell for corrosion experiments has been developed using a syringe as the cell with the syringe plunger replaced by reference and counter electrodes. Because the exposed area is defined by a hanging droplet, no masking is required and thus no crevice corrosion forms. This cell therefore enables measurements of pitting potentials of metals that are susceptible to crevice corrosion. The method was validated by cyclic potentiodynamic polarization experiments on Type 304H stainless steel. Crevice or interfacial corrosion was not evident in multiple replicate specimens tested with the syringe cell method.