Effect of temperature on bakelite properties used for standard RPC chambers

The time resolution of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) has been measured as a function of the bakelite temperature in the range (22 ÷ 40) °C. Results show a worsening of the time resolution as the temperature increases: the time resolution reaches 36 ns operating the RPC for about 400 hours at T = 40 °C. The electrical properties of bakelite used to build up the RPC chambers have been measured before and after the heating process. A dielectric spectroscopy study was also performed showing depolarimezation effects on the heated bakelite.