Thermally stimulated discharge current studies in shellac wax electrets

Abstract

The electret effect in shellac wax is investigated by thermally stimulated discharge current (TSD) technique. Calculations for the relaxation time and the activation energies are made for electrets prepared under different polarising conditions. It is found that the discharge current is linear with polarising field. It is also found that the total charge of an electret is not only due to the dipole orientation but includes also phenomena due to ion or electron trapping.