[Boatanchors] High Voltage Vs Styrene Plastic insulation

[rrkrr]

I recall reading a "Hints and Kinks" article on this in QST sometime in
the '70s or '80s.  Someone wrote in suggesting the use of "Bic" pen
housings, (most of which were clear styrene as the time) as insulators
for high voltage probe tip holders.   The next month, a plastics
engineer wrote in saying that while clean solid styrene is a good
insulator with high dielectric strength, the surface of the pen housings
would absorb oil and salt from the skin of the user, and then become
conductive. 

Bob
K4ERR


Greg Mijal wrote:
> Will styrene plastic work ok as an insulator at 3 kvdc or so?  Styrene plastic is the same stuff used in the model airplane - car - tank hobby kits.  I have a large clear piece that I want to use as a diode and capacitor filter network board mounted on steatite legs.
> Thanks
> Greg
> WA7LYO
> Kinston NC
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