Patent ID: 6020572
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: H05H

Abstract:
An electrode for supporting an electric arc in a plasma arc torch, and comprising:a metallic holder having a front face and a receptacle formed in the front face;a relatively non-emissive separator mounted in the receptacle and constructed of silver alloyed with 0.5 to 4 percent of an additional material selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, iron, lead, zinc, and alloys thereof, the separator defining an opening therein; andan emissive element composed of a metallic material having a relatively low work function, the emissive element extending at least partially in the opening of the separator such that the separator is interposed between and separates the metallic holder from the emissive element at the front face of the holder, whereby the separator acts to resist detachment of the electric arc from the emissive element and attachment of the arc to the metallic holder.