Effects of current rate on electrically exploding aluminum wires in argon gas

The electrically exploding wires (EEWs) method is a low-cost, high-efficiency method for nanoparticle preparation. The current parameter is a determining factor of EEWs’ characteristics and nanoparticles’ size distribution. This paper systematically investigates the effects of the current rate on the resistive stage and diffusion process of EEWs in argon gas. The electrical measurement indicated that EEWs tend to transform from current-pause mode to direct-breakdown mode as the current rate increases. Deposited energy increases with the current rate approximately linearly due to improved power and overheating limits. Spatial inhomogeneities include residual cores, irregular discharge channels, local hot spots, and stratification structures. The residual core is formed because of the rivalry between the vaporized part and the condensed wire core. Increasing the current rate suppresses the above-mentioned inhomogeneities and accelerates diffusion.