Sulphur hexafluoride: introduction to the material and dielectric

The basic principles of SF/sub 6/ as a dielectric gas and arc-interrupting medium are examined. The properties discussed are its high dielectric withstand of approximately=90 kV/cm-bar, its dielectric strengthafter decomposition, its suitable operating temperature range, its nontoxicity and chemical inertness, and the large amount of energy required to decompose SF/sub 6/ into a plasma. The basic health and safety concerns associated with the use of SF/sub 6/ are reviewed, and some of the concerns relevant to designing with SF/sub 6/ are briefly discussed.<>