Spark Decomposition of SF6,SF6/N2 (10:90 and 5:95) Mixtures in the Presence of Methane (0-4%) or Ethylene (0-2%)

For environmental reasons the quantities of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) used in high voltage equipment must be reduced by mixing it with some lower-risk gases: N₂ for instance 1_5. The stability of such mixtures under electrical constraints during operation must then be checked and compared to that of undiluted SF₆. Among the various types of stress to which SF₆ is subjected, sparking may occurs, especially in substations. The discharges degrades the gaseous insulator as well as other struck materials (as solid insulators); so the sparking-induced decomposition of SF₆ or SF₆-N₂ mixtures was to be studied in presence of additives (vaporized insulator, O₂, H₂O).