Electrical Conduction in 3-Percent Carbon-Filled Polyethylene Part I: Low-Field Results

The electrical conduction properties of polyethylene filled with 3-percent carbon have been investigated. Detailed step response measurements have been performed as a function of temperature in a range of electric fields below 104 V/cm where conduction is essentially ohmic. Using a Fourier transform technique a frequency-dependent loss factor was calculated from the resorption current data. Thermaliy activated relaxation-type peaks are found at very low frequencies and interpreted tentatively as arising from interfacial polarizations at the various crystalline-amorphous interfaces. Results of measurements of the residual dc conductivity are also discussed.