Abstract: Corona stabilization in electronegative gases such as SF.sub.6 is enhanced through the use of additives exhibiting ionization potentials which lie in the range in which the photon absorption characteristic of the electronegative insulating gas, as a function of ionization energy, exhibits minimal values. Accordingly, the present invention not only discloses such methods for enhancing corona stabilization but also discloses gaseous mixtures exhibiting this enhanced corona stabilization characteristic. Enhanced corona stabilization is important in that it produces significantly increased divergent field breakdown voltages in the gaseous mixture in gas pressure ranges which are of significant interest to the electrical industry. In particular, it is seen herein that tri-ethylamine is a particularly effective additive for use with SF.sub.6.