Thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDCs) were investigated in polyethylene /poly(vinyl acetate) blends as a function of the polarizing temperature, applied field, and poly(vinyl acetate) weight percentage in the blend. The magnitude of the TSDC peak current decreased and the peak current position shifted toward the lower temperature side as the poly(vinyl acetate) weight percentage in the blends was increased. The tendency of the current toward anomalous behavior (flowing in the same direction as the charging current) also increased. It was concluded that blending with poly(vinyl acetate) modified the polyethylene morphology such that the amorphous part was increased. The carriers with mobility enhanced by hopping centers due to the C=O group in the amorphous part were localized largely in shallow traps. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.