An upper limit for high power switching with a polymer current limiter device

The high power electrical switching properties of a polymer current limiter device configured to switch at only one electrical contact are studied as a function of applied voltage. It is shown that a dramatic change in switching behavior occurs at a characteristic voltage. Below this voltage, the device switches to a high resistance state whereas at higher applied voltages it does not. It is shown that the high voltage, low resistance state has similar electrical characteristics to an arc discharge and a qualitative model for the state is proposed. Material variation experiments are also described which demonstrate that the voltage at which the observed change in switching behavior occurs depends sensitively on the composite material composition and fabrication parameters.