What surrounds the element of a fuse to quench arcs and conduct heat?

The element of a fuse is surrounded by an arc quenching, heat conducting filler, which is specifically designed to manage the high temperatures and electrical arcs that occur when a fuse interacts with fault conditions. This filler plays a critical role in ensuring that any electrical arcs generated when the fuse blows are extinguished quickly and efficiently, thereby protecting the surrounding components and maintaining safety.

This filler material also possesses good thermal conductivity, which allows it to dissipate heat away from the fuse element, preventing overheating and potential damage to the device. This dual functionality of quenching arcs and conducting heat is essential for the reliable operation of fuses under fault conditions, making it clear why this option is the most appropriate choice in this context.

The other options do not fulfill both necessary functions of handling arcs and heat effectively, which is why they do not represent the design of a fuse's construction.