Electrical conduction in nylon fibre and cellulosic capacitor tissue

Abstract

The experiments described in this work are divided into two main parts. The first is concerned with electrical properties of a single filament of nylon held between two tungsten hook-electrodes. Currents were observed in atmospheres of different relative humidities and attempts were made to determine the voltage distribution along the filament. The voltage measurements were made using a high-impedence electrostatic null detector with a potentiometer system for balancing. The results were not highly reproducible and no definite conclusions could be made. The second part deals with currents through capacitor tissue in a metal- insulation- metal sandwich arrangement. A time-dependent polarization was observed and is discussed along with methods for determining an acceptable value for the steady-state current. Some attempts are made to apply Poole-Frenkel theory since there is a certain quantitative agreement with experiment. Current-temperature observations indicated that the activation energy is about 1 ev. Conclusions concerning the mechanism of conduction are suggested on the basis of available theory.