Cathode and anode falls of arcs with fusible electrodes

Anode and cathode potentials for electrodes of mild steel in stagnant air or flowing argon and CO₂ have been obtained both of the voltage distribution during arc quenching and of a measured melting velocity. The potentials are independent of arc current in the observed region 40-200 A. The energy for melting a unit length of a wire electrode has been established as the energy input for breaking a short-circuit bridge of the observed wire. The important role of neutral particle flux to melted electrodes has been revealed. A model of rapid arc quenching due to temperature and field emission of electrons has been suggested.