Thermally stimulated and isothermal depolarization currents in low‐density polyethylene

Thermally stimulated and isothermal depolarization currents of three low‐density polyethylenes are investigated in the temperature range 80–320°K. The thermally stimulated current spectra can be analyzed in terms of a continuous relaxation time spectrum. This spectrum can be resolved into three Gaussian distributions of activation energies centered near 140°K (γ‐relaxation), 205°K, and 245°K (β‐relaxation) in agreement with electrical and mechanical loss factor measurements. The experimental observation are explained in terms of reorienting dipoles, coupling the molecular motion to the electrical field.