Volume Resistivity

The resistivity of material is the resistance that a material presents to the

flow of electrical charges. This is some times called Ohm resistance
because it can be expressed by simple ohm’s law i.e. voltage is equal to the
current times the resistance.

V = IR

The resistivity can be measured through the thickness of the sample and is
then called the volume resistivity or it can be measured along the surface of
the sample and is then called the surface resistivity.

The resistivities measured by standard ASTM test may be considerably

different from the resistivities under actual use. The standard test values are
measured using controlled specimen size and shape surface cleanliness and
moisture content.
 Dielectric Strength
The resistivity of a material is determined under a relatively low voltage. If
the voltage is steadily increased, a point will reached when the electrical
forces on the electrons with in the material is so great that there is an
electrical break down and conductive path is formed. The voltage at which
this occur is called break down voltage, which when divided by thickness
of the sample, is called Dielectric Strength.

The dielectric strength is an important measure of the stability of a plastic

insulator in various electrical environment, especially high voltage
applications, where plastic insulators are used to separate high voltage
wires.

The most common test for measuring the dielectric strength of a material is
ASTM D 149. In this test a voltage is applied across the thickness of a
sample, which has been carefully conditioned to a standard temperature
and moisture content.
 Environmental Stress Cracking
Some plastics develop cracks when simultaneously placed into a certain
environment and subjected to a mechanical stresses. If plastic is in contact
with a soapy solution and is also kinked, crack can occurs. Often plastic
material would not crack if exposed to either the hostile environment or to
the mechanically stresses separately. This phenomenon is called
Environmental Stress Cracking.

This cracking is different from the polymer degradation phenomena

because stress cracking does not break the primary polymer bond, instead it
breaks the secondary linkages between polymers like van der waal forces.

The secondary linkages are broken when mechanical stresses causes

minute crack in the polymer that are enlarged by the swelling action of the
solvent.
 Environmental Stress Cracking
The resistance to stress cracking varies widely depending on
i. The effects of environmental chemicals.
ii. The tendency of plastic to resist the applied stress.
iii. The ability of plastic to stop the propagation of the crack.

This overall resistance is called Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance

.