Charge transport and space charge formation in low-density polyethylene

In the low-density polyethylene prepared by the high-pressure process (LDPE) and in that polymerized by using the metallocene catalyst (m-LDPE), homo space charges with same polarity as the semiconducting electrode were observed. This indicates that charges are easily injected from the semiconducting electrode independent of its polarity. The space charge in LDPEs with the density of 0.9185 g/cm/sup 3/ was broadly distributed and that in m-LDPE with that of 0.9227 g/cm/sup 3/ was accumulated near the semiconducting electrode. These suggest that the density and structure of polyethylene affect the charge transport and space charge phenomena. These effects were discussed by using computer simulation.