Investigations of surface degradation of high-density polyethylene materials resulting from tracking, using physicochemical analysis

In the present work tracking phenomena were studied with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials under dc voltage, with NH4Cl and acid rain as contaminants. It was determined that the tracking time of the material depends on the conductivity and flow rate of the contaminant. Furthermore, physicochemical analysis by wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies, differential scanning calorimetry, and luminescence spectroscopy was carried out, whereupon it was concluded that the tracking process is a surface-degradation process. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.