Gases released by surface flashover of insulators

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.340055· OSTI ID:5741554

Miller, H C; Ney, R J

The gases released by surface flashovers on alumina ceramics, glass, and quartz, using 20-..mu..s voltage pulses, were investigated using an ion-pumped metal vacuum system. Appreciable quantities of gas were measured (approximately 10/sup -6/ Torr liter or 10/sup 13/ molecules). The composition of this gas differed significantly from the background gas. The dominant species in the surface flashover gases were CO/sub 2/, CO, and H/sub 2/; a modest amount of CH/sub 4/ was observed, along with lesser quantities of N/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O. The dominant gas in the system background was nitrogen, accompanied by (in decreasing amounts) H/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O, CO/CO/sub 2/, Ar, CH/sub 4/, and He. We concluded that the gas released by flashovers on the surface of the insulators was not adsorbed system background gas, but was gas adsorbed during the handling and processing of the insulator.

• Research Organization: General Electric Company, Neutron Devices Department, P.O. Box 2908, Largo, Florida 34649
• OSTI ID: 5741554
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 63:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
FLASHOVER
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
CARBON DIOXIDE
ADSORPTION
CARBON MONOXIDE
GLASS
HYDROGEN
METHANE
NITROGEN
QUARTZ
WATER
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
VACUUM SYSTEMS
ALKANES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SORPTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
360204* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Physical Properties
360603 - Materials- Properties