Abstract
Experimental studies of a free-burning, high-intensity argon arc operated at 800 Torr with a solid, molten, or resolidified copper anode demonstrate that the cathode region is not affected by Cu vapor from the anode. Also Cu vapor concentrations in the arc core (beyond 1 mm from the anode surface) are negligible. In contrast, there is a strong effect of the Cu vapor on the anode region of the arc. The arc fringes become electrically conducting due to the presence of Cu vapor, resulting in a flattening of the current density distribution and a corresponding drop of the temperature in the arc core. At the same time, the overall arc voltage shows a slight drop (<1 V). In the case of the resolidified anode, the overall arc voltage increases, which seems to be associated with the distribution of the stagnation flow in front of the anode due to a dip in the center of the anode.
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Etemadi, K., Pfender, E. Impact of anode evaporation on the anode region of a high-intensity argon arc. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 5, 175–182 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566213
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00566213