DC conductivity and dielectric properties of maize starch/methylcellulose blend films

The transient current, electrical conductivity, dielectric constant (ε′), and dielectric loss factor (ε″) of starch and methylcellulose homopolymers and their blends with various compositions were studied under different conditions. The x-ray diffraction pattern was obtained for individual polymers and 50:50 wt/wt% blend sample to identify both the structure and degree of crystallinity. From transient current, the ionic and electronic transfer number as well as charge carrier density and drift mobility were determined. The values of activation energy in the temperature range 30–90 °C indicate that the conduction mechanism is due to combined electronic and ionic processes, while in the temperature range 100–160 °C, electronic contribution is predominant. The complex dielectric data of the present samples in an extended frequency and temperature range appear as different relaxation processes, which are connected with polymer dynamics.