Nonlinear dielectric properties of polyimide in high AC electric field

The nonlinear dielectric properties of polyimide (PI) films, excited by high-intensity, AC electric fields, have been measured. This work highlights that nonlinear DC conduction is a component of the AC conductivity and dielectric loss response when surpassing a certain threshold field strength. An additional Poole–Frenkel polarization, induced by high-intensity, high-frequency fields, also contributes to the nonlinearity. This increases the dielectric losses through a charge de-trapping process, the so-called “jacking-up” effect. A novel expression that captures the large signal behavior of the complex permittivity is introduced using the Cole–Cole format. Finally, it is shown that the dielectric properties and power dissipation density in PI films remain fully linear and frequency-independent up to an AC electric field of EPF ∼100 Vrms/μm and more conservatively below a threshold field of EX ∼ 45 V/μm (i.e., end of the ohmic region). Consequently, polyimide-based insulated electronic devices that are designed to continuously operate below this threshold field (including both uniform and fringe fields) will remain immune to a frequency-dependent electrical aging. Their lifetime should not be affected in any way.