Spontaneous electrical current (SEC) and potentials (SEP) curing crosslinking melting, softening and permeation processes in polymers

Abstract

When a transition front or a phase front moves within a dielectric material, a spontaneous electrical potential(SEP) or a spontaneous electrical current (SEC) can be observed without applied external voltage (zero bias). We found this effect during crosslinking of polyurethane, polysiloxane, unreinforced and glass fiber reinforced epoxy resins, and unsaturated polyester resins and also during softening, melting and crystallization of thermoplastics and during permeation of water through polyamide and polyurethane films.