CARRIER TRANSPORT IN HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

Current peaks due to transient SCLC were observed both in high-density polyethylene (HD-PE) and in oxidised HD-PE in the temperature range 50-90 degrees C. From the time at which the current peak occurs, carrier mobilities ranging from 10-11 to 10-9 cm2 V-1 s-1 were obtained. The mobility values obtained agree well with those evaluated from surface-charge decay measurements. They strongly depend upon applied field and temperature. The charge carriers have a much lower mobility in oxidised HD-PE than in non-oxidised HD-PE. This is attributed to the introduction of deep traps by the oxidation.