Risk Of White Powdery Decomposition Products Spreading From The Container During Disassembly Of The Sf6 Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism

This white, powdery decomposition product often originates from the chemical decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride sf6 circuit breaker operating mechanism under arcing or fault discharge conditions, and sf6 circuit breaker spring mechanism, which produces metallic fluoride dust during high-temperature discharge. The powder is typically white, gray, or brown.

If the diffusion of this white powder is not carefully monitored during disassembly, it can lead to skin contact or inhalation of particulate matter by operators, causing irritation and even lung damage.

Powder diffusion can also reveal early fault signals within the equipment. If a significant amount of white powder is found inside the container during disassembly, it often indicates that the circuit breaker has experienced arcing, partial discharge, or internal dielectric degradation, reflecting a potential deviation from normal operating conditions.