Effect of Shock Compression on Electrical Resistivity of Three Polymers

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Abstract
The electrical resistivities of polytetrafluoroethylene and high‐ and low‐density polyethylene have been measured during uniaxial shock compression from a few tens of kilobars to several hundred kilobars. For samples greater than 0.25 cm thick, decreases in resistivity of 10–14 orders of magnitude below the resistivity at atmospheric pressure were observed over this pressure range. The measured resistivities were independent of magnitude and polarity of the applied voltage, sample area and thickness, and electrode material as one would expect for a bulk conduction process. At stresses above 200–300 kbars, a further decrease in resistivity was observed as the unloading wave propagated through the sample. For samples thinner than 0.13 cm, an anomalous result was obtained in that no measurable decrease in resistivity occurred during the shock compression.