Abstract: The space charge distributions of low-density polyethylene under different dc electrical stresses are measured with the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method. The high field conduction of low-density polyethylene thin films (with and without the voltage stabilizer) after being aged at different times are measured and the energy level distributions of traps in the samples are calculated by the space-charge-limited-current (SCLC) theory. In addition, the high field conduction of polyethylene at different temperatures is measured. It is shown by test results that the voltage stabilizer can effectively reduce the producing of deep traps in the samples during the electrical aging process. Therefore adding the stabilizer will reduce the energy of hot electrons caused by recombination or trapping of charge carriers and lengthen the lifetime of the samples.

Key words: electrical aging, high field conduction, polyethylene