An Investigation Into Radio Frequency Arcing in Latex Foams

Radio frequency industrial processing applications have enjoyed a considerable growth over the last three decades. Nevertheless even with the wealth of experience built up over this time electrical discharges within the equipment or material being processed can present difficulties to the designer of new applicators. Particular care needs to be exercised if the material is flammable or its structure is such as to enhance the likelihood of arcs occurring. This paper aims to highlight some of the principles of arc propagation in latex foam when dried using radio frequency energy and describes the effects of arcing on the high frequency circuitry. An experimental technique to measure the growth time of the electrical discharges is also outlined and an extension of this technique to provide arc detection is presented.