The spectral properties of UV radiation from pulsed surface discharges

This investigation is concerned with the emission properties of pulsed electrical discharges propagating across the surfaces of PET, PP, PTFE, UPVC and PVDF in various gases. The effect of the interaction between the pulsed discharge and the substrate material has been investigated. The optical spectra from the discharges have been recorded over the 200-500 nm range. The cover gases were air, argon and SF/sub 6/ at pressures in the range 0.1-1 bar. In comparison to other gases, SF/sub 6/ was found to produce the most intense continuum and line: emission within the 200-300 nm spectral region. The substrate material was found to affect both the intensity of continuum spectra and the constituency of discrete line spectra. For example, when PTFE was employed, the continuum spectra radiated from the discharge were more intense compared with those of the other materials. In contrast, the use of PVC resulted in a considerable modification to the composition of discrete line spectra.