Effect of Surrounding Atmospheres on Break Arc Durations of Electrical Contacts in DC Load Conditions

In order to realize better understanding of influential order sequences of surrounding atmospheres on break arc durations of electrical contacts in DC load conditions, a quantitative mathematical model, which aims to indicate dependences of break arc durations on several gas parameters such as molecular mass, viscosity, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, electro-negativity, and ionization potential, was analyzed. Break arc durations of AgCdO contact pairs were measured in several kinds of surrounding atmospheres (N2, Ar, He, air, O2 and CO2) under different DC voltage and current conditions, and data fitting processes were conducted. As a result, a candidate mathematical model was established, which could indicate possible influential order sequences of surrounding atmospheres on break arc durations in the range of the tested conditions.