Space and surface charge behavior analysis of charge-eliminated polymer films

Abstract

Charge behavior of corona-charged or charge eliminated polymer films being dipped in the city water were studied. They were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE teflon), polypropylene (PP), low density or high density polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE) thin films which are as grown (native) or plasma-processed. The plasma processing at low pressure was tested as antistatic processing. Charge elimination was done by being dipped in alcohol or city water. TSDC (thermally stimulated discharge current) analysis and surface charge profile measurement were done for both charged and charge eliminated polymer films. Surface charge density of plasma processed polymer Alms just after corona charging is roughly the same as that of an original film. There is little difference between surface charge density profile of a native film and that of a plasma processed film. A large hetero current peak of TSDC was observed at room temperature for a processed film. It was found that the hetero peak disappears after charge elimination process. A pressure pulse wave method by using a pulse-driven piezoelectric PVDF polymer film as a piezoelectric actuator was newly developed to observe real space charge distribution. A little difference of internal space charge distribution between the plasma processed film and the native one after corona charging is found.