The electrical breakdown of polymers with saturated bonds is considered as a consequence of formation of low-density regions in the bulk of the polymers. These regions form due to the dissociation of chemical bonds initiated by the ionization of macromolecules in a high electric field. It was shown that the electrical lifetime of a polymer can be estimated based on this approach.

A mechanism of ageing and breakdown of thin insulating polymer films in an electric field is described. Ageing and breakdown are attributed to the field ionization of macromolecules which is regarded as a self-accelerating process that takes place during the entire electric lifetime and results in an abrupt current increase in the breakdown channel. Calculations are compared with experimental dependences of polymer film lifetimes on electric field intensity.

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