ABSTRACT
Electrical properties of polymers are determined by their chemical structure. The properties of interest are controlled by functional group behavior on the polymer backbone, under conditions that can be qualitatively described as either low or high voltage stress. This chapter reviews the subject of properties of such systems for electrical and electronic applications. One of the many uses for polymers is as electrical insulation. Transportation of electrical energy over great distances requires the use of complex equipment requiring highly reliable operation. Electrical insulation can be employed in various forms; materials may be synthetic or natural polymers. Epoxies are among the most commonly used polymers for electrical and electronic uses. The prior discussion indicates that it is the polar functionality on any polymer that influences the dielectric properties at low stresses, and that to understand the behavior of an expanding monomer, the polar functionality must be understood.
