Electrical Conduction of Nylon 6 at High Temperature

The step-response current i ( t ) of nylon 6 is described in detail in the time range 5–3600 s at temperatures from 80–120°C with applied fields of about 5×10 3 to 5×10 5 V/cm. The log i ( t )-log t curve can be expressed by three straight lines and the current consists of an absorption component and an approximately constant one, the latter of which is assumed to be the quasi-steady state conduction current. The absorption current changes in its functional parameters with applied field. The total absorption charge tends to saturate with rising temperature or applied field, and is almost independent of the electrode metal. These results can be interpreted in terms of the immigration of a fixed number of ions existing in the polymer toward the counter electrode. It is also suggested from the ohmic nature of the quasi-steady conduction current that the accumulated ions do not establish a space charge but are neutralized at the electrode.