Constant current corona charging of PVF2

Abstract

Conduction of polyvinylidene fluoride is investigated by the method of constant current corona charging. During poling the surface voltage approaches a constant value, proportional to the current, if this is sufficiently small. When the corona is turned off it decreases to zero. Measurements with single and double electroded samples, for both polarities, give identical results, seeming to indicate conduction due to preexisting charges. Measurements in air of different relative humidity and in argon show that the conductivity depends on the presence of water vapor in the surrounding gas. Results are tentatively analyzed in terms of an equivalent circuit in which the sample is represented by a parallel connection of a capacitor and a resistor.