XPS spectra of water-tree regions in low-density PE

Abstract

The XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) spectra of water-tree regions in low-density polyethylene are reported. Results shown an increase in the oxygen and nitrogen concentrations in treed regions compared to nontreed regions. Peak fitting of the C1s peak suggests the presence of up to 10% of various combined carbon-oxygen species and another 10% of the C-N species. The source of the C-N species is not certain but may be related to subcorona aging. >