The mechanisms of conductivity and breakdown of metal-filled polymer films

The frequency dependence of the conductivity of metal-filled polymer films is studied. The determination of the conductivity mechanism is based on the se data and the geometric concepts of the structure of the conducting skele ton as well as on the voltage-current sample characteristics. It is shown t hat the frequency dependence of the conductivity is determined by the parti cle-separating interlayers (polymer or oxide) where the transfer of charge carriers occurs by combining quantum-mechanical tunneling and the mechanism of jumping over the localized energy states. It is suggested that the loca lized breakdown of interlayers may occur under the action of weak external electric effects (the effect of the electrode) capable of sharply increasin g the conductivity of the composition.