Effect of conjugated bonds on the charging of insulating polymers

Abstract

Different densities of conjugated bonds, which affect the polarization states necessary in forming polarons, are generated by stretching polymers at various rates. An investigation of the charging of the stretched high-impact polystyrene and high-density polyethylene by using a scanning electron microscope technique is made. The experimental results reveal that polymer charging is related to electron trapping as polarons at the polarized sites of the polymeric chains, confirming the recent interpretation of charging behavior in insulating materials.