A discussion on the electronic properties of polyethylene interfaces

The electronic properties of insulating material surfaces are of paramount importance when dealing with the electrical response of insulated systems. Because dielectrics are able to store and to transport electric charges, their surface electronic properties will control their ability to inject charges in the contacting medium being gas, vacuum, liquid or solid. Interfaces of interest here are those pertaining to classical electrical engineering configuration e.g. gaseous voids sustaining partial discharges, dielectric barrier discharges, vacuum tubes, insulated systems, dielectrics exposed to ionizing radiation, etc. We discussed the case of polyethylene based on recent experiments and modeling works.