Electrical conduction and breakdown in polyolefin with carbonyl groups

The effect of polar groups on electrical conduction in polyolefin has been studied using oxidized low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and copolymers of ethylene and carbon-monoxide. It has been found that carbonyl groups may act as trap sites to suppress the current when their content is low, and become hopping sites to assist the carrier transport in the high content region. In the present report, temperature dependence of electrical conduction in polyolefin with low carbonyl contents is investigated from the results of DC conduction, space charge distribution and impulse breakdown strength.