Towards the Understanding of Pre-breakdown Conduction and Breakdown in Polymers

Polymers have attracted significant attention for their desirable electrical performance in various harsh conditions. The rapid development of devices with high power density calls for further investigation of the intrinsic breakdown mechanism of polymers. Intrinsic breakdown depends upon the presence of free electrons capable of migration through the dielectric. The breakdown strength and pre-breakdown conduction of biaxially oriented polypropylene ( BOPP) films were studied as a function of temperature. The combined temperature-dependent (TD) conduction and breakdown measurements can be powerful tools for probing the information related to electron transport and the breakdown criterion. Such study can not only provide insight into the breakdown mechanism of dielectrics but also pave the way towards the exploration of high- performance polymers.