The Influence of Fuse Element Materials on the Post-Arc Dielectric Recovery Process in Quartz Sand Current-Limiting Fuses

Quartz sand current-limiting fuses are widely used in power systems. Successful fault interruption critically depends on the fuse’s ability to withstand transient recovery voltage (TRV) without dielectric breakdown during the post-arc stage. This paper experimentally investigates the influence of fuse element materials (copper, silver, copper-silver composite material) on the post-arc dielectric recovery of quartz sand fuses. Results demonstrate that fuses with copper elements exhibit superior dielectric recovery, achieving a dielectric strength of 336.57 V within 30 μs in post-arc stage, which is 1.74 and 2.71 times higher than copper-silver composite (193.15 V) and silver (123.85 V) elements, respectively. Mechanistic studies reveal that copper enhances dielectric strength through synergistic effects of high ionization energy (suppressing arc gas ionization) and high electron work function (reducing electrode electron emission). This study establishes that fuse element materials regulate post-arc dielectric recovery through dual mechanisms (electrode properties and arc composition), providing critical insights for high-performance fuse design.