Graphite specimens (diameter 15-25 mm) were fractured with electric current (current density 1, 000-2, 000 A/cm
2) for purpose of determining the electric current capacity. Judging from the phenomena attending the fracture and an approximate calculation of thermal stress distribution, the fracture is presumed to be due to thermal stress and sublimation of specimens.
The results obtained were as follows:
(1) The relationship between the current density and length of time required for fracture is obtained by the following formula:
i=At
-nwhere n=0.3-0.4. The constant A is decided according to the specimen used.
(2) When the fracture time is t=10 sec and the specimen's diameter is 20∅, the following relationships exist between fracture current density (i) and physical properties:
Bulk density: i=430d
2.5 d (g/cm
3)
Electric conductivity: i=25K
0.6 K (mho/cm)
Compressive strength: i=370S
0.25 S (kg/cm
2)
Modulus of elasticity: i=60E
0.5 E (kg/mm
2)
If the required time is extended to infinity, fracture does not occur. In this case fracture current density (
i∞) represents the current capacity of the electrode.
(3) Relationship between
i∞ (A/cm
2) and the radius of the specimen r (cm) is,
i∞=Br
-mIn the case of an electrode whose properties are bulk density 1.57 (g/cm
3) and specific electric resistance 1.18 (mΩ-cm), B is 260 and m is 0.7.
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