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Electrode erosion in arc discharges at atmospheric pressureAn experimental investigation was performed in an effort to measure and increase lifetime of electrodes in an arcjet thruster. The electrode erosion of various anode and cathode materials was measured after tests in an atmospheric pressure nitrogen arc discharge at powers less than 1 kW. A free-burning arc configuration and a constricted arc configuration were used to test the materials. Lanthanum hexboride and thoriated tungsten had low cathode erosion rates while thoriated tungsten and pure tungsten had the lowest anode erosion rates of the materials tested. Anode cooling, reverse gas flow, an external magnetic fields were all found to reduce electrode mass loss.
Document ID
19860029707
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hardy, T. L.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1985
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 85-2018
Accession Number
86A14445
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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