Dielectric breakdown of polyacetylene

Cis-(CH) x , with lower electronic conductivity, has a higher breakdown strength than trans-(CH) x , with higher conductivity. However, the breakdown strengths of both (CH) x film isomers are much lower than those of other insulating polymers such as PE, PS, etc. The breakdown strength of (CH) x increases with increasing temperature from 77 K to around room temperature, and then above some critical temperature T c , it decreases rapidly. This behavior can be explained in terms of an electronic breakdown process at lower temperatures and by a thermal process at higher temperatures.