Polymer-Metallic Reagent Head

Abstract

A reagent head has a housing, an inlet and an outlet. Check valves and other details are not shown for clarity. The reagent head may have a dish where a diaphragm may seat when in a fully forward position. The reagent head may be constructed primarily from a high-strength material, e.g. ductile iron, in a substrate layer. The reagent head may also comprise a polymer layer. The polymer-metal interface may incorporate key grooves to provide an increased surface area for the polymer-metal bond. The key grooves may be any shape which increases the bonding surface area. Certain key groove cross-sectional shapes, such as dovetails, will create an interlocking interface that may provide increase resistance to separation of the polymer layer from the substrate layer.

1 . A reagent head for a metering pump, comprising:
 a housing having a pumping chamber, wherein the housing has a substrate layer; and   a polymer layer disposed on the housing in the pumping chamber.