Radiation‐induced dielectric loss in hydrocarbon polymers

Abstract

Abstract The dielectric loss of several cables insulated with hydrocarbon polymers has been measured over the frequency range of 10 −3 –10 4 Hz at 50° after being subjected to neutron doeses of up to 65 Mrad. The loss data show that a new loss process appears upon irradiation and that the frequencies associated with this loss are not those that are characteristic of those found for the unirradiated polymaric relaxations, ruling out main‐chain motions. This loss seems to be related to dose and is probably due to local dipoles that are formed by the irradiation. It is also shown that the dominant behavior is not due to simple ionic conductivity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.