The electric strength of some solid dielectrics

Methods are described by which the ‘intrinsic’ electric strength of solid dielectrics may be defined and evaluated. It is shown that the magnitudes of and the effect of temperature and thickness upon the electric strengths of certain crystals agree with Fröhlich’s theory of electronic breakdown, as also does the effect of disordered structure and microstructure in similar instances. On the other hand, departures from theory occur with complex organic dielectrics and also with crystals when, with the latter, certain limits, e.g. of temperature, are exceeded.