Electrical conductivity studies in nylon 11

The results of electrical and dielectric studies in semicrystalline nylon I I (degree of crystallinity 62%) by means of dielectric relaxation spectrosc opy (DRS) in the frequency range 10(-2)-10(6) Hz at temperatures between th e glass transition temperature of about 40 degreesC and the melting tempera ture of about 190 degreesC are reported. Emphasis is put on the investigati on of electrical conductivity and conductivity effects. Additional informat ion on de conductivity is obtained from triangular voltage measurements. Th e results of DRS were analyzed within the formalism of permittivity (ac con ductivity), impedance, and electric modulus. At temperatures higher than ab out 100 degreesC the spectra are dominated by de conductivity and conductiv ity current relaxation. Despite high values of de conductivity (sigma (dc)= 10(-6)-10(-5)S/m at 170 degreesC), electrode effects and space charge polar ization, giving rise to high values of epsilon' at low frequencies, are neg ligible in the whole temperature range of measurements. This feature, as we ll as the rather small temperature dependence of static dielectric permitti vity, su-e important with respect to technological applications of nylon 11 as a high-temperature electroactive material. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)06324-6].