Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) is one of the chain of forty national laboratories under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Indusrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India. CECRI is one of the largest electrochemical laboratories in the world. Main campus has an area of 370 acres of land with 4,50,000 sq.ft of laboratory space. The institute has four extension centres located at Madras, Cochin, Mandapam Camp and Tuticorin where work related to the main R & D of the headquarters is carried out.
The strength of Scientific technical and other staff is about 700. In addition, 150 young boys and girls are working as Junior Research and Senior Research Fellows, Research Associates, and Project assistants.
The institute was established in 1953 in Karaikudi in Tamilnadu. It was started with the following principles.
Major R&D Programmes
Major R&D programmes of CECRI relate to :
Basic research also forms an important part of the R&D programmes at CECRI.
Significant Achievements
Technologies have been developed for making lead-acid
batteries for normal and low temperature applications and
maintenance-free (MF) lead-acid batteries of capacities upto
12V/100Ah; deep discharge lead-acid batteries manufactured
using CECRI knowhow are being used for powering stand-alone
lights in rural areas under the Literacy Mission and in
uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) in computer installations
Technology has been developed for nickel electroforming of
the thrust chamber of the cryogenic rocket engine for ISRO
Technolgy developed for the production of titanium substrate
insoluble anodes (TSIA) is being widely used in the chlor-
alkali and other electrochemical industries.
Processes have
been been developed for the energy-efficient production of
potassium perchhlorate, potassium iodate and calcium
gluconate; Technologies have been developed for the
production of sodium, misch metal (mixture of rare earths)
and chromium powder, and for the recovery of gallium from
Bayer liquor Proces knowhows have been developed for the
production of magnesium-silver chloride, megnesium cuprous
chloride and nickel-iron batteries CECRI process for copper
plating of stainless steel vessels is widely used to save on
cooking fuel CECRI has developed sacrificial alloy anodes for the cathodic protection of submerged steel
structures (eg. offshore oil platforms) and ocean going
vessels; Knowhows have been developed for several corrosion
inhibitors; CECRI has developed expertise for momitoring
corrosion levels in bridges and innovative solutions for
protecting prestressed steel in concrete structures; knowhow
has also been developed for supervisory control and data
acquision (SCADA) for monitoring corrosion rates in offshore
structures automatically and applying corrective measures by
remote control. This is being used at Madras Port Trust.
Technology has been developed for road-marking paints,
daylight phosphors and phosphors for flurescent lamps
Major Technologies Transferd to Industry
Titanium substrate insoluble anode (TSIA) Zinc ethyl
silicate primer; SRHS Chrome salt Copper plating/colour
coating of stainless steel vessels Al-Zn-In and Zn-Mg
sacrificial anodes Ion-selective electrodes Magnesium
cuprous chloride battery, magnesium silver chloride battery,
lead-acid battery, maintenance free lead-acid battery and
paste type deep-discharge lead-acid battery Calcium
gluconte, potassium iodate, potassium cholarate, calcium
carbide and ammonium perchlorate Membrane cell for the
production of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide
Electroforming of engineering components Electrophoretic
paint; blue phosphor Anti-corrosiv treatment for steel
reinforcement rods Chromium and sodium metals Rust converter.
Technologies Ready for Transfer
Aluminium alloy anodes for cathodic protection (based on
indium) Anti-tarnishing lacquer for copper and its alloys
Stationary paste type deep-discharge lead-acid batteries
Platinum and palladium plating solution concentrates
Technologies for gold plating Rust-converting primer
Reflecting road marking paint; flurescent paints for sign
boards Inhibitor admixture for cement grout used in
protecting prestressing steel; solution for protection of
prestressing steel in cable ducts Lithium-manganese dioxide
button cell (capacity 3V/500mAh) Air drying synthetic enamel
paint Nickel-iron alloy plating; brightener for nickel
plating Maintenance-free lead-acid battery for use in
emergency light
Major Future Programmes
In tune with the new economic policy, CECRI plans to
concentrate on a few selected areas and meet prospective
clients more than half way through sustained marketing
thrusts. Research would concentrate on concrete structures,
power sources for electric vehicles, fuel cells and new
materials
Main Facilities
Modern analytical facilties, eg: high performance liquid
chromatography, gas chromatgraphy, gel permeation
chromatography, IR, UV and atomic absorption
spectrophotometers, X-ray powder diffractometer, scanning
electron microscope and elemental analyzer. A betatron
radiographic instrument for monitoring corrosion in
reinforced and prestressed concrete structures Microvax
computer system Facilities for testing batteries.
Services Offered
CECRI offers consultancy services to industry, R&D units and
government agencies within and outside India and undertakes
sponsored research in all areas of electro-chemistry. The
institute has helped in setting up a calcium carbide plant
in Myanmar.
The institute provides testing and analytical services to
industry, particularly for batteries, paints, coatings,
electrodeposits, inhibitors etc.
Training Courses
CECRI conducts technology-oriented refresher courses in the
areas of bateries, corrosion prevention, metal finishing and
pollution control and training courses for industries, R&D
organizations, and educational institutions
A 4-year B.Tech programme of the Madurai Kamaraj University
is being offered at this institute covering the areas of
electrochemical engineering and technology.
Publications
and its annual reports
CECRI also conducts short term refresher courses for the
benefit of industry and educational institutions, brings out
journals (Bulletin of Electrochemistry, Corrosion update and
Battery News Letter) and runs a B.Tech program (Chemical and
Electrochemical Engineering of M.K.University). The
institute is alive to societal obligations and actively
participates in Rural Science Forum (VPF), Science and
Technology Enterpreneur Development (STED) and Swadeshi
science movement (SSM) and Ambedkar Nagar in collaboration
with other agencies.
CONTACT :
Central Electrochemical Research Institute,
Karaikudi 623 006,
India
Telephone: 91-4565-2064 & 2088 Telegram: CERI, KARAIKUDI
Telex: 0443-221 ECRI IN
Fax: 91-4565-2088
Email:cecrik@sirnetb.iisc.ernet.in
