Conduction of Electricity by Dielectric Liquids at High Field Strengths

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Abstract
The conductivity of highly purified heptane has been measured between optical flats at field strengths up to 600,000 volts per cm at temperatures ranging from - 190°C to 20°C. Electrode separations down to 0.005 cm were used in order to minimize the effect of space charge and ionic recombination. It is concluded that electronic or collision processes are unlikely as the source of high field conductivity in heptane and probably most other liquid dielectrics as well. It is suggested that the highly nonconducting dielectric liquids should be included as extreme cases in the general class of weak electrolytes. The presence of appreciable conductivity under high electric fields is ascribed to the lowering of the energy of the hydrogen bond by the applied field.

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