[NewCandle] More pics from Nick

[Nick Reiter]

Thanks Horace,

I can work with some higher V this coming week, by
diluting down the electrolyte.  As you did, I've seen
with Zr the bright white breakdown fireballs, that was
back when I was working with the cathode plasma in
KOH.

I hadn't really planned on getting back into the AGD,
but now with some EDS and SEM at my disposal, it takes
on a whole new element of fun in exploration.

n


--- Horace Heffner <hheffner at mtaonline.net> wrote:

> Nick, my experience with anode glow is that, above
> the threshold  
> operating voltage, the glow intensity is
> proportional to current  
> density.  A small electrode will glow brighter than
> a large one at a  
> given current.  My experience with Zr, if I recall
> correctly, is that  
> the conditioned surface had a higher resistance than
> aluminum and had  
> to be run at a higher voltage to get the same
> current density.  When  
> run in the even much higher voltage electrospark
> mode, the actual  
> sparks on Zr were more energetic, kind of a bright
> white and smaller  
> in diameter if I recall - I think due to the much
> stronger dielectric  
> breakdown potential.  My memory is just not so good
> these days.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Horace Heffner
> http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
> 
> 
> 
> On Sep 13, 2008, at 1:06 PM, Nick Reiter wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Thanks again, Keith,
> >
> > A couple of random observations:
> >
> > 1.  The oxide layer with the oxalic may be
> thinner, or
> > it may be stressed differently or is denser...
> because
> > when I snipped out a little bit for the SEM from
> the
> > pop can bottom that had been run with the
> phosphoric
> > acid (bright yellow glow) the oxide crust there
> seemed
> > to break into the dehydrated mud flat cracked
> tiles.
> >
> > 2.  Snipping out a piece from the oxalic run can
> did
> > not seem to fracture the "ceramic" coating.  In
> the
> > low mag picture shown with this set, you'll see a
> > large smashed in dimple to the top of the photo. 
> This
> > was actually done intentionally with the tip[ of
> some
> > stainless tweezers, to try to make a hole in the
> > coating to get some glimpse of thickness.  As you
> can
> > see, it sort of conformally smooshed out with the
> > aluminum.
> >
> > 3.  Now back in the heyday of AGD work, I remember
> > trying some strips of Zr foil in lieu of Al foil,
> in
> > the AC version where the strips were suspended in
> a
> > mason jar with weak baking soda solution.  I
> THOUGHT
> > that I witnessed a very weak glow, and so presumed
> > that Zr and maybe even Ti might act similarly to
> Al.
> > Well, this morning, I was in at the lab, and I
> made a
> > simulated pop can bottom from Zr foil, and set it
> up
> > in the same geometry and style (DC supply,
> graphite
> > cathode, with the Zr foil disc in the bottom of a
> > styrofoam cup puck.)  Tried weak oxalic,
> phosphoric,
> > and baking soda electrolytes, and could not get a
> > glow.  SO maybe Zr acts differently than Al after
> all,
> > or maybe I was just seeing things back in the day
> when
> > I swore I saw a faint emission.
> >
> > Overall, the brightest bluest glow of any
> situation
> > was with polished rod electrodes, and either DC
> power
> > with helical stainless wire cathode, OR AC with
> two
> > rods, and citric acid.  I can polish a pop can
> bottom
> > in situ, though, and try that first... maybe I'll
> get
> > a stronger blue with oxalic.
> >
> > N
> > --- Keith Nagel <NewCandleAdmin at ipdiscover.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> OK, new batch of pics, a bit delayed by some
> >> foolishness on my part.
> >>
> >>
> >
>
http://www.kpnconsulting.com/newcandle/download/nick4.htm
> >>
> >> It's a shame the resolution poops out right when
> >> things get interesting,
> >> but that's basically a given with test equipment,
> >> right???
> >>
> >> For what it is worth, the oxide layer seems very
> >> disordered. Can
> >> you polish a surface before you oxidize?
> >>
> >> K.
> >>
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> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Roslin waits.
The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates. 
Adorned in the masters' loving art, She lies;
She rests at last beneath the starry skies.