Some remarks on the conduction current in insulating liquids

The influence of gases, absorbed in liquids and adsorbed on the surface of electrodes, upon the current conduction in insulating liquids was investigated. At field strengths up to 10 5 V/cm, the current depends upon the gases adsorbed on the electrode surfaces as well as on those absorbed in the liquid. Based upon the experimental results obtained in uniform and non-uniform fields, the hypothesis that carriers are supplied from the anode in liquids is discussed in relation to the gas-adsorbing power of the metals used as electrodes. It is believed that if the electrodes are not degassed, the conduction currents are governed not only by negative carriers from the cathode but also by positive ones formed at the anode.