Abstract
SULPHUR hexafluoride is widely used as an insulator in many electrical devices, but little is known of its fundamental electrical properties, particularly at voltages above about 100 kV. As the first part of an investigation on the growth of pre-breakdown ionization in SF6, we have carried out measurements from which values of the apparent primary ionization coefficient α′ have been determined, at pressures in the range from 50 to 400 torr and for voltages up to about 200 kV. We report here a dependence of the coefficient α′ on gas pressure, not previously observed in SF6, which is significant to the insulating properties of the gas and which can be related to the fundamental collision processes occurring.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahearn, A. J., and Hannay, N. B., J. Chem. Phys., 21, 119 (1953).
Hickham, W. M., and Fox, R. E., J. Chem. Phys., 25, 642 (1956).
Edelson, D., Griffiths, J. E., and McAfee, K. B., J. Chem. Phys., 37, 917 (1962).
Compton, R. N., Christophorou, L. G., Hurst, G. S., and Reinhardt, P. W., J. Chem. Phys., 45, 4634 (1966).
Miyamoto, T., and Kamatani, A., Electrical Engineering in Japan (USA), 85, 30 (1966).
McAfee, K. B., and Edelson, D., Proc. Phys. Soc., 81, 382 (1963).
Bhalla, M. S., and Craggs, J. D., Proc. Phys. Soc., 80, 151 (1962).
Davies, W. E. V. J., Dutton, J., and Harris, F. M., J. Sci. Iustrum., 43, 457 (1966).
Thomas, R. W. Lake, Proc. Seventh Int. Conf. on Phenomena in Ionized Gases, Belgrade, 1, 271 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DUTTON, J., HARRIS, F. & JONES, G. Ionization, Attachment and Breakdown in SF6. Nature 227, 702–703 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/227702a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/227702a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
