High-Voltage Electrical Breakdown of Water

Electrical breakdown due to high voltage applied between electrodes in water was investigated in a series of experiments under various conditions performed at Texas Tech University. The following special conditions were tried: magnetic fields at the electrodes, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas dissolved in the water, several concentrations of HCl in the water, anodized aluminum electrodes, coating the electrodes with various materials including wax, polymers, and treatment of the water with surfactants. A sophisticated analysis of the data is included.