[Boatanchors] Lets try a different capacitor question.

[Chuck McGregor]

Gerry-
Drake's Cyclopedia of Radio and Electronics (1932) has an article on 
electrolytic caps.  They list the following electrolytes for aluminum 
electrolytics, with their breakdown voltages:
Borax (Sodium Tetraborate)      480volts
Ammonium Citrate                470volts
Ammonium Phosphate              460volts
Sodium Silicate                 445volts
Ammonium Bicarbonate            425 volts
Potassium cyanide               295 volts (I don't think I'd try this one)
Ammonium chromate               122volts
Potassium permanganate          112 volts
Sodium sulphate                 40 volts

The article cites "Electrochemical and Metallurgical Industry"  (a 
periodical ??) as the source for this list and mentions the 
importance of pure water for the solutions.

I'll scan the article and email it to you.

73,
Chuck N7RHU