Effects of solvent extraction on electrical properties of LDPE

This work was carried out to elucidate the role of small polyethylene chains in the space charge behavior of LDPE. The samples were xylene extracted at different temperatures to control the concentration of small chains. Their conduction and charge distributions were measured and the role of small chains discussed. It was found that the type of charge depended on the type of polyethylene, solvent extraction may reduce the charge in some (but not all) polyethylenes, and solvent extraction reduces conduction currents but does not affect the conduction mechanism.