Building my cell

[banjags]

I am collecting all the materials I need to build my cell. A couple of questions.

1- Does it matter was the cathode is made of? There is reference to using lead, stainless and graphite.

2- If I cannot find an unglazed ceramic pot without a hole in the bottom would silicon caulking stand up again saltwater and peroxide?

3- Can I use ordinary table salt out of a box?

4- Could the ph- stuff for pools be used as a smb substitute? It is sodium sulfite or sulfate... cannot remember.

 

[lazersteve]

Banjags,

I believe scavenger used a mild steel cathode.

Use non-iodized table salt.

Run a test on the silicon of your choice without any gold in the cell. Use a piece of copper or other metal as the anode for testing your cell construction and function.

SMB is sodium metabisulfite, the swimming pool additive won't work.

 

[banjags]

How long do you figure that the stainless bowl he used will hold up for? That would solve the cathode problem.

I will post the result of the caulking test when I get to it. Would copper plumbing pipe serve the purpose for testing?

I just need to find a unglazed flower pot in the middle of winter...

 

[banjags]

Well,

went to rona last night and bought a small ceramic flower pot about 3 inches round and 3 inches deep.(with a hole) and some kinda ceramic bowl (no hole) about 6 inches round and 1 1/2 deep. I am assuming they are unglazed as the tag did not say glazed as it did on other ones, and they are not shiny either. I hope to do a test in the next little bit. I will be using kitchen and bathroom silicon caulking from rona to seal the hole. If that does not work I might try epoxying a piece of glass over the hole. I still have to purchase some stainless clips and something to use as a cathode. We will see what happens.

I found a supplier for scrap karat jewellery (very cheap and legal). So if this process works well without inquartation it could be quite profitable.

 

[Gotrek]

I don't believe silicon is slfuric acid resistant and neither is epoxy (i can vouch for the epoxy)

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/rubber/rubberprop/chem_oil.asp

Concentrated sulfuric acid
decomposed
decomposed

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/chemical-resistance-epoxy-d_786.html

www.randolphproducts.com makes a battery acid resistant paint (2 part epoxy) but I couldn't find a sulfuric acid resistant epoxy

 

[banjags]

For my purpose it doesnt need to resist sulphuric acid. Just Salt water and peroxide. (unless that makes sulphuric??) no idea. chemistry is not strong point by any means.

Does anyone know an adhesive that could resist sulphuric acid?

Perhaps JB Weld it says it bonds to ceramic, glass, plastic. nothing about chemical resistance though.

 

[Gotrek]

Oh oh I thought you were making a sulfuric acid based cell. Sorry.

Didn't read properly I read cell, and patching a hole in ceramic

J-B Weld is waterproof; petroleum, chemical, and acid resistant when fully cured (as per google)

 

[banjags]

J-B Weld is waterproof; petroleum, chemical, and acid resistant when fully cured (as per google)

That is the information I found on google. I emailed the jb weld company asking them if it is resistant to sulphuric and nitric acid.

 

[aflacglobal]

Use a rubber stopper from a test tube.