The Electric Breakdown of Sodium Chloride

Abstract

Experiments are described which establish that the electric strength of sodium chloride decreases slowly with increase in specimen thickness. Flat topped impulses were used and the time lag to breakdown of each specimen was measured. The mean statistical time lag depended on the nature of the cathode, and it rapidly decreased with increase in the size of voltage increment. The characteristics of breakdown are similar to those predicted by the single avalanche theory of Seitz according to which disruption results from the passage of an electron avalanche exceeding a critical size.