Perfluorocarbons in Electrical Discharges

Abstract

The use of perfluorocarbon fluids as electrical insulants focuses attention on the need for a better understanding of the behaviour of electronegative materials when subjected to electrical stress and discharge conditions. Electron affinity can play an important role, and its measurement for several perfluorocarbon and sulphur compounds by the magnetron method is described. The degradation chemistry of a range of perfluorocarbon compounds subjected to thermal and non-thermal discharge is investigated. Substantially different product compositions are obtained in the two discharge regimes and are analysed in terms of the structure of the parent compounds. The nature of the scission and product formation processes is deduced.