Dielectric breakdown of solids

In the course of this survey we have consulted more than 60 journals, conference and symposium reports originating from 16 countries. The principal sources of information were the Annual Report — Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, published by the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., and the publications of IEEE and of IEE (London). It is eight years since the authors produced a literature survey on this topic and it is interesting to note, on the one hand, an apparent decline of interest in the problem of intrinsic electric strength and in the breakdown of thin films. On the other hand, strong interest has emerged in the effects of morphology on various aspects of the electrical breakdown of polymers. As a consequence of this growing interest and the importance of the structure of dielectric materials, especially polymers, with regard to their electrical properties, we have introduced this topic under its own heading.