抄録
A tree generated directly from a needle electrode tip is referred to as "initial tree". In polyetylene, the initial tree develops approx. 5 to 10μm in a linear pattern from the needle electrode tip. In order to investigate a cause of the tree development pattern, we have observed detail superstructure near the needle electrode tip using the polarizing microscope. In high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE), growths of trans-crystal of approx. 10μm and 5μm respectively have been observed on the electrode surface. In cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), however, the trans-crystal could not be found. In each polyetylene, AC voltage has been applied to the needle electrode to generate the tree. The tree has developed linearly along the trans-crystal in HDPE and LDPE. However, in XLPE, the tree has been blanched at the needle tip. We have confirmed that the initial tree is influenced by the superstructure in the polyethylene on the electrode surface.