Prebreakdown events in aromatic liquids

The liquids preferred for high electric field applications are oils containing aromatic constituents or synthetic liquids such as alkyl-diphenyls. The authors test n-decane under DC and AC voltage and compared their results to those obtained in aromatic liquids (toluene and a constituent of a capacitor impregnant, benzyltoluene). The tip electrode was made by electrolytically etching a tungsten wire