CECRI ranks among the world's premier R&D laboratories in the field ofElectrochemical science and technology. The professionalism, immense experience,know-how and capabilities of the scientists of this CECRI group make themmasters of the changes and new developments created by a steady flow of innovations.

CECRI's efforts in upgrading the technology is continuous - this web site can only hint at the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience and expertise gained from over 50 years of research.

About CECRI

Central Electrochemical Research Institute is one of the chain of forty national laboratories under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. (CSIR) New Delhi. Founded on 25th July 1948 at Karaikudi in Tamilnadu, it came into existence on the January 1953. During the last fifty years CECRI has been recognised as the premier institution for R&D in the field of Electrochemical Science and Technology not only in India

Dr. M. Raghavan , Director

but also in the South  East Asia, with a total strength of over 600  personnel comprising scientists, engineers, technologists, skilled workers, administrative and other staff, with a combined laboratory space of 4,00,000 sq.ft. in a campus of 300 acres. There are Four extension centers for CECRI located at Chennai, Cochin, Mandapam and Tuticorin.

Major R&D programs at CECRI are in the areas of Corrosion Science and Engg., Industrial Metal Finishing, Batteries (Primary and Secondary), Electro-Metallurgy, Electropyrometallurgy, Electro chemicals (organic and inorganic), Materials Science, Electrochemical Instrumentation & Pollution Control. The programs are directed towards development of new processes of products or novel use of electrochemistry. Techniques, up gradation of the already developed technology, basic research is carried out. An excellent library, computer center, workshop, centralised characterisation and measurement laboratory lend active support.

Over the years 680 patents have been filed, 190 processes have been developed and 140 sponsored projects, 110 grant-in-aid projects have been undertaken. More than 140 processes have been released to 375 licensees for commercial exploitation. The institute staff has published more than 4000 research papers including several review articles in both national and international journals of repute, edited several books and conference proceedings and maintain intimate contacts with the academic institutions within and outside the country. Recognition of contribution made by CECRI to Indian industry has come in the form of 50 major and minor awards. Direct earnings by the way of foreign exchange savings and energy efficient electrochemical technologies including corrosion prevention amount to about Rs.500 crores.

CECRI also conducts short term refresher courses for the benefit of industry and educational institutions, brings out journals (Bulletin Of Electrochemical, corrosion update and battery news letter) and runs a B.Tech. program (Chemical and Electrochemical engineering of Madurai Kamaraj University). The institute is alive to the societal obligations and actively participates in the Rural Science Forum (VPF), Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (STED), and Swadeshi Science Movement (SSM) and Ambedkar Nagar in collaboration with other agencies.

Achievements

• Research Publications
• International Patents
• Indian Patents
• Awards
• Distinguished visitors to the Campus
• Our Scientists Abroad

Facilities

CECRI has excellent sophisticated instruments for systematic measurement and for characterisation studies. CECRI can undertake the analysis of any type of mixture of solids, liquids, paint composition, additives and polymer compounds for industries. Institute has set up Modern Corrosion Testing Facilities in the headquarters at Karaikudi and in the different units in Chennai, Cochin, Mandapam and Tuticorin. The new testing and monitoring facility will be useful to industries to adopt appropriate corrosion control and maintenance schedules to enhance the reliability, reduce the down time leading to increased production and to provide better quality anti-corrosion products in the country.

	Computer controlled X-ray powder diffractometer for identification and characterisation of polycrystalline materials.
	Perkin - Elmer AAS: Atomic absorption spectrophotometer with built-in microprocessor for rapid analysis of as many as 65 metals even at micro gram level.
	An Infra-red spectrophotometer with memory storage /recall for rapid identification of organic functional groups /trace impurities and also some inorganic compounds.
	A 185 - 2600 nm wavelength double beam UV-VIS- NIR spectrophotometer for characterisation of various organic and inorganic species including semi- conductor materials in transmittance 1 absorption mode.
	A gas chromatography for organic liquid analysis.
	A high performance liquid chromatography fitted with IC-8A pump, UV & RI detector and CICODE column
	A gel permeation chromatography for analysis of polymer composites and molecular weight distribution and stereochemistry of polymers.
	An elemental analyser for the determination of C, H2 and N2 in both solids and liquids.
	A betatron-gamma radiograph which can be used for scanning of concrete bridges to assess the damage to the reinforcement steel, voids in grout and concrete and conditions of the reinforcement steels.
	INSTRON KTM 100KN to test tensile compression, torsion and pullout test for concrete.
	Stress corrosion testing equipment to test stress corrosion cracking of prestressing steel in high temperatures.
	Signal Processor Model 1200 for measuring the auto correlation, auto power and transfer function of the system. Useful in measuring the noise power during pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking.
	Corrator model 1120, USA, measures the instantaneous corrosion rate of metal inhibitor performance both in laboratory and field.
	All modern equipments required for paint testing and Electroplating and Metal finishing Procedure, concrete structure

Services

Library & Information Services (LIS)

CECRI has an excellent library with a rich collection of books, journals, patents and newsletters in all branches of electrochemistry and other related sciences. Facilities are also available for online searching of many international data bases. Bibliographic information on specific topics in the areas of batteries, corrosion, metal finishing, paints and pigments, chemicals, metals and materials, instrumentation and pollution control will be provided to Entrepreneurs and Industries. Xerox copies of the articles published in various journals will be provided.

Computer Centre

CECRI has an excellent computer facility with an infrastructure of Rs. 60 lakhs. MICROVAX, DEC WORKSTATIONS and a good number of PC 486 / Pentium with Laser Printer / Inkjet Printers and Image Scanners are some of the prestigious systems available in Computer Centre.

Software tools like FORTRAN, DBASE IV along with DEC-GKS for graphics and NISA for finite element analysis are available on the VAX system. The NISA software includes modules for static and dynamic analysis, Heat Transfer analysis, 3-D flow analysis, Fatigue, Fracture analysis. Stress analysis, Structure and shape optimisation. Some of the indigenously developed softwares are Word Processor, Expert system development shell, Entrance exam evaluation package.

Other than the above, there are about 150 PC's / Printers of various brands / modems installed in various divisions of the institute both in the stand alone and interfaced to instruments for use in all areas of electrochemical research.

Workshop


Institute has an excellent workshop catering to the needs of the scientists in carrying out their R & D work and helping in putting up the Pilot plant for proving the technologies at a higher scale.

Publications

CECRI and its divisions publish following periodic journals. Bulletin of Electrochemistry Battery Newsletter CECRI News Transaction of SAEST Current Titles in Electrochemistry

Courses

CECRI offers a variety of courses to scientific and technical personnel employed in industries, Government and academic institutions. These moderately priced courses are designed to impact the necessary knowledge and skills and are conducted by talented and highly competent scientists with the help of skilled auxiliary/technical staff. Participants will be given ample opportunities to have hands-on-experience.

So far the Institute has conducted about 506 courses and more than 4960 persons have been trained. The medium of instruction is English.

Facilities Available

1. Scanning Electron Microscope for surface analysis of materials
2. EPMA
3. Computer controlled x-ray powder diffractometer
4. Perkin Elmer Atomic Spectrometer with built in microprocessor
5. IR spectrophotometer
6. Double beam
7. UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer
8. HPLC
9. Gel permeation chromatography for analysis for polymer composites, molecular weight distribution and stirred chemistry of polymers
10. Elemental analyzers for the determination of C, H&N both solids and liquids
11. Betatron Gamma radiography.
12. Computer controlled DTA,TGA,DSC equipment for study of Solid State Reactions
13. Equipment for chemical vapour deposition
14. Modern workshop for fabrication works
15. CECRI Library has a rich collection of books, periodicals, patents, translation, and other documents. Currently the library receives about 346 periodicals and has nearly 41168 volumes of books and back volumes.7403 patents,2784 standards,2170 translations and 2663 reports. The library also operates a fee based information service to industries. It is having facilities like Internet browsing/literature search from CD-ROM databases and photocopying. It is also publishing an international journal namely Bulletin of Electrochemistry.

Methodology

1. Lectures
2. Practicals and demonstrations
3. Group discussion with scientists

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