6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1265e55

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Experimental approach of the interaction between a sub-microscopic cathode tip and the plasma

Jérôme RossignolJ. JouhannaudPhilippe TestéB. De FonsecaEric Bourillot

subject

Materials sciencebusiness.industryAnalytical chemistrySurface finish01 natural sciencesCathode010305 fluids & plasmasCathodic protectionlaw.inventionElectric arcOpticsPlasma torchlaw0103 physical sciencesCathodic arc depositionElectrodeSurface roughness010306 general physicsbusinessComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS

description

The interaction between electrical arc and cathode represents a crucial problem in the conception of arc jet thrusters, circuit breakers, and plasma torch or arc heaters. At the cathode surface, the current and energy transfers are controlled by the current emitting site (cathodic spot). Theories and experimental observations, at macroscopic and mesoscopic scale, deal with the erosion of the cathodic surface. Under micrometer range, theories refer to the arc root to describe the erosion of the surface. The works presented here propose an original method to evaluate the arc-cathode interaction at micrometric scale. A nanotechnology is used in order to control the roughness of the electrode surface and to deposit the microscopic tip. After discharge, the influence of the tip in the cathodic erosion process is studied. Scanning Electron Microscopy images show that a good reproducibility of the erosion zone is obtained by using this experimental method.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2007-01-012007 8th International Conference on Electric Fuses and their Applications
https://doi.org/10.1109/icefa.2007.4419978