Triggerable spark gap, switching circuit having a triggerable spark gap, and process for manufacturing a triggerable spark gap

A method for producing a triggerable spark gap, the method comprising:

• providing a trigger electrode;
• forming an adjacent electrode and/or a counter electrode by coating a first material with a second material,
• wherein the second material is provided in form of an aqueous paste and applied onto the first material by a thick-film method;
• drying the paste after applying the paste;
• and
• sintering the first material after drying, wherein the second material has a glass component which bonds the second material firmly to the first material by the sintering,
• wherein the heated glass paste is a heated paste containing sodium silicate with a mass fraction of between 50% and 70%, a sheet glass with a mass fraction of between 10% and 20%, yttrium oxide with a mass fraction of between 1% and 5%, titanium with a mass fraction of between 1% and 5%, and water with a mass fraction of between 0.5% and 1.7%.

A triggerable spark gap comprising:

• a trigger electrode;
• an adjacent electrode at the trigger electrode;
• a counter electrode;
• and
• a gap between the counter electrode and the adjacent electrode,
• wherein the counter electrode comprises a first phase comprising a first material and a second phase comprising a second material,
• wherein the first material comprises molybdenum, tungsten, chromium, copper or lanthanum, wherein the second material comprises a glass paste, and
• wherein the glass paste is a paste containing sodium silicate with a mass fraction of between 50% and 70%, a sheet glass with a mass fraction of between 10% and 20%, yttrium oxide with a mass fraction of between 1% and 5%, titanium with a mass fraction of between 1% and 5%, and water with a mass fraction of between 0.5% and 1.7%.