Superiority of syndiotactic polystyrene as an electrical insulating polymer

It is known that syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) exhibits good thermal stability in various mechanical properties due to its syndiotactic stereoregularity, while it maintains the versatility of atactic polystyrene (APS). The present paper reports experimental results conducted for the purpose of revealing various dielectric properties of SPS in comparison with other engineering and general-purpose polymers including APS. By examining the partial discharge (PD) resistance, electrical conductivity, and complex permittivity, it was found that SPS has a stronger PD resistance than low density polyethylene, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene, and that the conductivity, permittivity, and dielectric loss factor are lower in SPS than in APS. By taking all the above-mentioned results into account, it can be concluded that SPS is an engineering polymer with superior electrical insulating properties.