Physical mechanism of the electrical polarization of polyethylene terephthalate

The relation between the structural and dynamical properties of amorphous and partially crystalline polyethylene terephthalate and its electret properties was analyzed. The thermal stability of polarization charges and space charges was found to increase with aging in the glassy state and with increasing degree of crystallinity. The discharge behavior was governed by the interaction of real charges and polarization charges. The combination of different charging techniques resulted in a linear superposition of the respective discharge processes on heating.