Transient behavior of electrical conductivity in low‐density polyethylene in the presence of acetophenone. Issue 14 (14th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamedi, Hossein; Walker, Roger C.; Woodward, W. H. Hunter; Rajagopalan, Ramakrishnan; Furman, Eugene; Lanagan, Michael T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 139:Issue 14(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-11-14
• Subjects: acetophenone -- high voltage cables -- field‐assisted transport -- dispersive charge transport -- low‐density polyethylene -- transient current; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.51881
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

Abstract: The transient current in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) is studied, particularly in the presence of the small organic molecule acetophenone (ACP). Crosslinked LDPE is used extensively in high‐voltage power transmission, and acetophenone is a common byproduct of the crosslinking chemistry. Time‐dependent current measurements of LDPE with and without ACP soaked into the polymer as well as at one or both electrodes are performed by applying step voltages. The results demonstrate that the presence of ACP causes a deviation in the predicted power‐law current decay, suggesting that electron and hole injection at the anode and cathode, respectively, are affected by the presence of this small organic molecule. ACP contributes both to the ionic conduction and charge hopping mechanism. The charge mobility depends on the applied electric field and the sample thickness. The results suggests that the dispersive charge transport phenomenon influences the measured current. This study shows how such a molecule may alter charge transport in polyethylene. Abstract : Presence of acetophenone in low‐density polyethylene causes the conduction current to deviate from the conventional power‐law current decay. Charge injection increases at the electrodes due to the presence of acetophenone. Migration of the injected charges are assisted by the diffusion of acetophenone molecules and the applied electric field. The mobility of the injected charges is influenced by the sample thickness due to the dispersive nature of charge mobility and diffusion in semi‐crystalline polyethylene.