What is dielectric breakdown? Explain briefly the various factors contributing to breakdowns in dielectrics.

Ans.: Electric Breakdown: When the electric field applied across any substance exceeds threshold breakdown field for that substance, the insulator suddenly turns into a resistor, Here a large usually abrupt rise in electric current is produced small increase in electric voltage. Breakdown can be intentional and controlled of accidental. Lightning is the most familiar example of breakdown.   

Electrical breakdown in Gas: In a gas, the potential gradient may become high enough to accelerate the naturally present may become high enough to accelerate the naturally present ions to such velocities that cause further ionization upon collision with other atoms. The process is corona discharge. If the region of ionization does not extend between oppositely charged electrodes, if the ionization region the gap between electrodes breaking down the insulation provided by the gas the process is ionization discharge. When controlled by the ballast of a fluorescent lamp the process converts electric power to light.  

Electrical Breakdown in Solid: In a solid, when the electric field gradient exceeds valence bonds between atoms are broken and current flows. Such a disruptive current heats the solid abruptly. During electrical breakdown, any free charge carrier being accelerated by the strong electric field will have enough velocity to knock electrons from any atom it strikes. Rapidly the insulator becomes filled with mobile carriers due to creation of more and more charge carriers and its resistance drops. In are the outbreak of conductivity is called corona discharge or a spark. 

Application: Electrical breakdown can be useful in every day applications such as spark plugs for gasoline engines, electrical welding of metals of for metal melting in an electric arc fumace.