APPLICABILITY OF THE GEMINATE MECHANISM TO THE DESCRIPTION OF RADIATION-INDUCED CONDUCTIVITY OF POLYMERS

Numerical calculations on the transient process of radiation-induced conductivity upon homogeneous and continuous generation of isolated ion pairs for a model dielectric that imitates low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the absence of pair overlapping (a low radiation dose) were carried out. The results obtained were compared with the available experimental data. For the experimental results to be consistent with the theory of geminate conductivity in polymers of the LDPE, PTFE, or polypropylene type, it necessary to employ an additional factor that accounts for the kinetic hampering of the geminate recombination processes and the subsequent perturbation of the Langevin mechanism of the bulk recombination of charge carriers.