On the pulse electric discharge effect on metals in air

Consideration is given to the possible mechanisms describing the effect of the electric pulse with duration of 200 mcs on metals with various physical properties in the air. The study of metal erosion following the attack of the microsection surface by the pulse electric discharge testifies to the existence of three groups of metals whose surface fracture is markedly different. An interelectrode distance is a vital importance for liberation of heat in the interelectrode space. It is assumed that the process of metal evaporation is likely to be responsible for the consumption of energy and also for the lower resistance of the interelectrode distance. A complete consistency of experimental data is lacking. It is shown that the advancement of the ideas of the interaction between short electric pulses and metals calls for the proper consideration of a three-dimensional aspect in the heating and plasma scattering problem as well as a thorough study of particle scattering in a discharge gap in plasma