Electrical properties of biodegradable polylactic acid film

We measured the basic electrical insulation characteristic of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), and the following results were obtained. The volume resistivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss tangent measured at room temperature were almost the same as those of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) currently used as insulating material for cables and electric wires. The mean impulse breakdown strength of PLA was about 1.3 times that of XLPE. Also, space charge accumulation in PLA and XLPE was measured. The amount of space charge accumulation in PLA was one-half that in XLPE when dc voltage was applied for a short time. Index Terms--Biodegradable polymer, electrical insulation characteristics, film, polylactic acid (PLA).