Space charge behaviour in electron irradiated polymers

The materials under investigation were introduced into an irradiation chamber specially equipped with electron beam facilities able to reproduce a spatial environment. In situ surface potential and bulk space charge distribution measurements were performed to investigate various materials (polyfluoroethylene FEP, epoxy resin, polymetacrylate of methyl PMMA). A new space charge detection set-up based on the pulse electro acoustic (PEA) method specially adapted for space environment monitoring was developed for this purpose.