Abstract: A device for extinguishing electric arcs, especially a circuit interrupter, in which electrodes and/or other parts are used for striking an arc during the circuit opening, which consist at least in part of metallic and non-metallic elements producing reaction products under the heat of the arc serving as arc-extinguishing media, and in which an additional non-metallic component for the reduction of the current is added or admixed to such electrodes or parts or is included in the form of auxiliary electrodes or parts for the same purpose; a preferred non-metallic component for reduction of the current is silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2).