Relation crystal structure with breakdown of polyethylene thin film

With high field for both crystalline and amorphous region existing on same plane, dielectric strength and breakdown sites are investigated. Scanning electron micrograph for the breakdown specimen show that crystalline and amorphous region are morphologically different and that those may not be equal in thickness. From the result, we found that breakdown of purified specimens occurs mostly at the boundary line between crystalline and amorphous region and the sites of breakdown of unpurified specimens were randomly distributed all the region of specimens. From the results, breakdown of uncontaminated PE are attribute to non-continuity of crystal structure which is regarded as a defects.