Electric arc - Definition and Overview

An electric arc is an ongoing plasma discharge, similar to the instant spark, resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air. The arc occurs between two conductive electrodes (often made of carbon) and it results in a very high temperature melting or vaporizing virtually anything.

On a commercial basis, electric arcs are used for welding, for electrical discharge machining, for movie theater projectors or street lamps (historic), and to produce aluminum and sometimes steel using scrap. Calcium carbide is made this way as well as it requires a strong endothermic reaction at 2500°C.

See also

• Spark gap

External links

• [1] (http://home.wanadoo.nl/erny8/arcmelt/) Some more info about making electric arcs using a welder.