Positron annihilation and electrical conduction of irradiated polymer

Positron lifetime measurements were applied to electron beam irradiated poly(ether-ether-ketone). The lifetime, /spl tau//sub 3/, of the ortho-positronium became rapidly longer from about 150/spl deg/C. The intensity, I/sub 3/ increased monotonously with increasing the temperature. /spl tau//sub 3/ of the unirradiated specimen was similar to that of 5 MGy irradiated one, and I/sub 3/ of the unirradiated specimen was a little larger than that of 5 MGy irradiated one. It was shown that electron beam irradiation and temperature affect the positronium formation. The conduction current increased rapidly between 160/spl deg/C and 170/spl deg/C. The conduction current of the unirradiated specimen was smaller than that of the 5 MGy irradiated one, however, it was larger than that of 50 MGy irradiated one. The correlation between the results of positron annihilation and electrical conduction was investigated.