SPACE CHARGE EFFECTS IN POLYMERS DURING PROLONGED INTERACTION WITH AN ELECTRIC FIELD.

The effects of space charge stored in polymers interacting for a long time with a strong electric field were studied in this paper measuring the field distribution in the polymer. Polyethylene and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) samples were used in the experiments. The samples were probed both in their initial states and during long-term interaction with the pulsed voltage (until electrical breakdown was reached). It was found that the interaction of the pulsed electric field with the dielectric causes a space charge to accumulate in the latter; the field produced by the space charge depends on the duration of the interaction, the configuration of the external field, the properties of the dielectric material, etc.