Dielectrics: effects of high static voltage

Abstract

The mechanisms of electrical conduction in any material are associated with its chemical structure and they follow the laws of kinetics and thermodynamics. Each reaction that produces or removes charge carriers requires a minimum amount of energy transfer. This minimum, or threshold level, is called activation energy. As energy is added to a system, the rate at which existing reactions occur increases and new reactions begin. The latter provide additional energy which may be, for example, in the form of heat or electromagnetic energy. The heat is either applied to the system or generated within the system by the electric field.