The time dependences of electrical conduction and self-heating in high-density polyethylene/acetylene carbon black composites crosslinked with electron beam irradiation at three different dosages are studied in relation to voltage and ambient temperature. The characteristic decay current constant (T-i) and the exponential growth time constant for self-heating (T-g) are determined for the samples under voltages (U) above the onset voltage (U-c) of self-heating. The influence of crosslinking on the current decay dynamics, self-heating process, and amplitude of the resistance switching under field action are discussed. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.