Phase Explosion of Conductor with Current

Abstract

The paper deals with the effect of a magnetic field developed by the current flowing in a liquid-metal conductor on the parameters of its phase equilibrium with own vapors. A phase explosion occurs as a result of loss of thermodynamic stability of a two-phase system, when, as the conductor is heated with current, the vapor in equilibrium with the liquid metal phase compressed by ponderomotive forces reaches the state of limiting supersaturation (spinodal). This instability initiates the dispersion and scattering of the conductor upon its electric explosion. The parameters of electric explosion of a copper conductor are calculated. It is demonstrated that the conductor temperature at the moment of explosion depends considerably on the parameters of the electric circuit and may vary in a wide range almost from the boiling point to a close-to-critical temperature without, however, reaching the critical temperature.