On Permanent Charges in Solid Dielectrics. II. Surface Charges and Transient Currents in Carnauba Wax

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Abstract
Permanent surfacecharges are produced in disks of carnauba wax by exposure to an external electric field. The nature of these charges is studied with a new method of analysis, which is based on the simultaneous measurement of the external current and of the induced charges on the electrodes of the capacitor containtaining the dielectric. The observed effects are explained by dielectric absorption and by transfer of charge from the electrode to the surface of the dielectric; this latter phenomenon is due to surface breakdown and continuous conduction currents. The results provide an adequate explanation for the electret.