Advanced Reference Electrode for Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) Systems Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-169 Topic Title: Advanced Reference Electrode for Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) Systems Proposal No.: N102-169-0169 Firm: Giner, Inc. 89 Rumford Avenue Newton, Massachusetts 02466-1311 Contact: Mourad Manoukian Phone: (781) 529-0527 Web Site: www.ginerinc.com Abstract: Unknown amounts of drift in reference cell readings and unforeseen failures of reference cells can disable shipboard Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems and result in expensive rework and repair. Therefore, the United States Navy has identified the need for robust and reliable reference electrodes for use with shipboard ICCP systems to eliminate nuisance alarms and premature failures. Based on these considerations, Giner, Inc. proposes to design and develop a robust and reliable reference electrode capable of operation in seawater or freshwater, with minimal drift, that could be incorporated into the shipboard ICCP systems. The proposed novel concept will utilize graphite substrates modified with certain metal oxide mixtures in carefully designed ratios, where the novel noble metal oxide will not exceed 2% of the total weight of the graphite. The resulting modified graphite reference electrode will be robust with minimal drift and will be capable of incorporation into shipboard ICCP systems. Benefits: The proposed novel, robust and reliable modified graphite reference electrode that could be incorporated into a shipboard impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system could have a major impact on the impressed current cathodic protection industry. In addition to their application in military ships and submarines, the proposed modified graphite reference electrodes could be used for the cathodic protection of underground pipelines, on-ground storage tanks, iron water pipes and in-ground storage tanks systems. Successful completion of the Phase I developmental effort to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed novel reference electrode and successful completion of stability tests will be instrumental in the design and further development of the proposed technology in Phase II, where several prototypes of the final modified graphite reference electrode could be fabricated and tested at independent laboratories of our Phase II potential collaborators. Return