Study of space charge effects on electrical properties of polymers by direct probing

Direct and quantitative probing of space charge was carried out to study the effects of space charge on the dielectric breakdown of polymeric insulating materials. In poly-p-phenylene sulfide, in which dielectric-breakdown characteristics were explained in terms of space-charge formation, positive homo space charge was observed. The amount and the depth of space charge detected agreed well with those assumed from the breakdown characteristics. Similar results were also obtained for oxidized PE (polyethylene), where prominent electron injection and negative-homo-space-charge formation took place.<
>