Electrostatic Hazards of Nonohmic Materials

Uniquely nonohmic properties have been revealed to exist in the materials involved in some recent electrostatic problems on space programs. It is suspected that nonohmic properties may also be involved in electrostatic problems with computers and hightemperature hydraulic systems and petroleum refinery operations. The data which revealed that the conductivity of certain insulating materials decreases with increasing electrical fields is reported along with a description of the experimental techniques. The significance of the nonohmic phenomena in predicting electrostatic compatibility and electrostatic safety is that the accumulated voltage and the energy available for discharge will be computed to be far less than the value which actually will exist whenever nonohmic materials are involved. The failure to take account of the nonohmic property can readily lead to predictions that conditions are safe when, in fact, the conditions are dangerous.