Re: Hydrogen Outgassing

To: neon-l@netcom.com
Subject: Re: Hydrogen Outgassing
From: deric@ids.net (d eric johnson)
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 12:13:57 -0700
Reply-To: neon-l@netcom.com
Sender: owner-neon-l@netcom.com

>Dirk, this is excellent description, but what I am missing is HOW the
>hydrogen gets into the glass pores in the first place? Is it somehow
>introduced during the manufacturing process?
>Jeff
>

Hello all,

This may be the answer to a mystery we've been trying to solve.  Recently,
we've been involved with several haunted jobsites which keep blowing out
secondary coils of transformers only a few months old.  We've observed
voltage spikes of more than 150% of rated voltage occuring at the peak and
valley of every cycle (talk about corona!!!).  At ISA this week, I talked
about it with Frank Mohacsi, whom I very much respect.  Frank spent many
years with Mason as their Tech Director and now works at Everbrite Research. 

Frank said he's seen the same before and it was caused by hydrogen being
contained in the tubes.  So, the question becomes... why would that hydrogen
be there?  Frank referred to it as contamination.  From what?  Moisture
outgassing from phosphors?  What else?  Why wouldn't this be flushed out if
tubes are properly evacuated during processing?   Help!