Interfaces and Space Charge in Polymeric Insulating Materials (invited)

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of the interface between electrode and polymer or polymer and polymer on the space charge dynamics has been studied. Planar samples of low density polyethylene (LDPE) were subjected to high dc electric stresses for extended periods of time and space charge measurements were taken using the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) technique. Common electrode materials used in either the laboratory or power cable industry were selected (i.e. aluminium (Al), gold (Au) and carbon loaded XLPE (Sc)). Experimental results demonstrated that charge injection processes take place in all cases once the applied stress has exceeded a threshold. However, the amount of charge and polarity of the dominant injected charges showed a significant dependence on the electrode materials (under the same applied electric stress). Having establishing the influence of the electrode material on charge accumulation, our attention was paid to the effect of polymer/polymer interface on charge dynamics. Unlike our previous approach where two different polymeric materials were used, this time the polymer/polymer interface was formed by using the two layer of LDPE films cut from the same sheet. Sc and Al were used as electrodes to form different combinations. The results clearly indicated that the interface between two layers of LDPE acts as traps for electrons but not for positive charge carriers. The charge distribution in the bulk of the sample strongly depends on the electrode materials