High voltage research (breakdown strengths of gaseous and liquid insulators). Semiannual report, October 1, 1977--March 31, 1978. [Summaries of research activities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Abstract

The work on gas mixtures is focused on combinations of gases consisting of strongly electron-attaching components and one or more electron slowing-down components. Hypotheses based on the positions of electronically excited states are borne out experimentally in the low pressure (<1000 torr) breakdown measurements. The high pressure work shows dramatically the importance of the electron scattering cross section on breakdown strength by comparing Ar with Ne as single gases and in mixtures with SF/sub 6/. Although the ionization cross section for Ar is very much greater than that for Ne, Ar is a superior buffer gas. A theoretical discussion is given which describes the relation between the dielectric strength of a gas to its physical parameters including the electron attachment cross section, the ionization cross section, the ionization potential, and the electron energy distribution function. Also discussed is the importance of perfluorination in hydrocarbons to effect an increase in the electron attachment cross section and electron affinity and a decrease in the ionization cross section, and hence an increase in dielectric strength. Attachment rates were measured as a function of the mean electron energy for a comprehensive list of perfluorocarbons. Breakdown voltages were determined for SF/sub 6/ and for SF/sub 6/ (20%)/N/sub 2/(80%) as a function of temperature from -15/sup 0/C to 85/sup 0/C. Environmental aspects of gas dielectrics pertaining to gas decomposition and toxicity were studied.