Effect of Blending on Electrical Conduction and Breakdown of Low-Density Polyethylene Films with Different Densities

Abstract

In this study, the effect of blending on physical and electrical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was investigated. Two kinds of LDPEs whose densities are evaluated to be 0.9179 g/cm3 and 0.9192 g/cm3, respectively, were used and blended according to different blend ratios. The LDPE with a blend ratio of 50 wt% had the lowest impulse breakdown strength, FBImp, at 30°C. However, the LDPE with a blend ratio of 50 wt% also had the highest FBImp at 90°C among all specimens. The DC breakdown strength, FBDC, decreased with the increase of the blend ratio at 30°C but increased at 60°C and 90°C. However, the FBDC did not depend on the blend. The current densities for all specimens were almost the same at 30°C, but decreased with a blend ratio up to 75 wt% at 90°C. By analyzing X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, we found that the crystal size in the (020) plane increased with a blend ratio up to 50 wt%, and the LDPE with a blend ratio of 50 wt% had the largest crystal size in the (020) plane among all specimens. It was found that the FBImp was strongly related to the crystal size in the (020) plane.