Re: Nitrogen VS Compressed air quenching

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Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 


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Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: Nitrogen VS Compressed air quenching


 > Original poster: "June Heidlebaugh" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>
 >
 > The presents of oxygen changes the arc voltage a great amount. Nitrogen or
 > any other gas has a known breakdown voltage. WHEN OXYGEN IS PRESENT THE
 > BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE BECOMES UN PREDICTABLE.
 >     Robert   H


I'd have to disagree, considering that researchers since Paschen have found
consistent breakdown voltages for air, as well as other gas mixtures.  If
the mixture were reactive, (hydrogen and iodine, for example, or H2 and O2),
you'd have problems, but for ordinary mixtures, I doubt that merely having
oxygen in the mix makes it unpredictable.