Results of studies of the direct current generator of low-temperature nitrogen-propane plasma

Abstract The effect of propane-butane addition to the plasma-forming gas on the state of cathodes with inserts made from lanthanated tungsten and hafnium is investigated. With a small propane addition (1%), the restorative effect of the insert material is noted, and the propane consumption has an upper limit when it is introduced together with the plasma-forming gas (no more than ∼ 73% of the plasma-forming gas consumption), below which the arc stability is not disturbed.