Simultaneous thermally stimulated luminescence and conductivity in cross-linked polyethylene

Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) and conductivity (TSC) were measured simultaneously on thin films of polyethylene, cross-linked using three different processes. Following polarization at room temperature and X-irradiation at -190°C, measurements were made up to 90°C. There is strong evidence of heavy charge-injection into all three types of samples from evaporated gold electrodes, commencing around 15°C. A TSL peak appearing around -100°C in non-cross-linked polyethylene was not observed, suggesting that the crankshaft mode of molecular motion is suppressed in cross-linked samples