On the correlation between high electric field stressing and changes in infra-red absorption in polymers

Changes in the infrared absorption spectra of various polymers under the application of a high DC electric field have been reported by various research groups. The authors chart their work in this field and place their most recent results for iodine-doped cellulose acetate in the context of both earlier investigations and their own investigations. Results on polyethylene and polypropylene are reviewed as background. In the authors' investigation it was found that no changes occurred in the infrared absorption spectrum of iodine-doped cellulose acetate irrespective of the applied field. Since the range of fields utilized encompassed both ohmic and space-charge-limited regimes and charge injection was present, it is concluded that the changes in infrared absorption in polymers under high DC electric field stressing cannot be simply attributed to charge injection.<>