Electric strength of air and sulphur hexafluoride in the system with electrodes covered with dielectric double layer

The paper presents the results of the study on the effect of dielectric double layer at electrode surface on electric strength of compressed air and compressed sulphur hexafluoride. The research has been carried out at alternate voltage of 50 Hz frequency. It was found that thin insulation coating laid on electrode surface, composed of aluminum oxide layer with a layer of electro-insulation polyester lacquer significantly improves electric strength of air and sulphur hexafluoride. It was found that maximum growth of electric strength of these gases was caused by the coating under their pressures exceeding the atmospheric one (3·105 and 5·105 Pa). The changes in configuration of electrode surface of the insulation systems caused by sparking over have been examined with scanning laser confocal microscope