Dielectric losses of polar polymers

In addition to high breakdown strength, the electrical insulators for superconducting magnets must have excellent dielectric properties at cryogenic temperatures. Chant reported the results of measurements on dielectric constant and loss tangent (tan 5) for several polymers over the temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K [83], The variation of dielectric constant of samples as a function of temperature is shown in Fig. 15. The dielectric constants of nonpolar polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene, are substantially independent of temperature, whereas those of polar polymers except polyimide decrease by a maximum of 20% as the temperature is reduced. The values of tan 8 at the frequency of 75 cps for nonpolar polymers decreased by... 

Dielectric relaxation and dielectric losses of pure liquids, ionic solutions, solids, polymers and colloids will be discussed. Effect of electrolytes, relaxation of defects within crystals lattices, adsorbed phases, interfacial relaxation, space charge polarization, and the Maxwell-Wagner effect will be analyzed. Next, a brief overview of... 

The dielectric loss characteristics of polar polymers are much more complicated, as would be expected from the theoretical aspects described above. The range of values in the dissipation factor for a variety of plastic material is tremendous (see Figs. 35 and 36). The absorption peaks also vary greatly in width. In general, the dissipation factor at a given frequency and temperature cannot be predicted for other conditions. The common practice of providing one value at perhaps 1000 Hz is obviously completely inadequate in the functional sense. For a meaningful evaluation, it is necessary to obtain dissipation factor values over... 

Finally, the dielectric properties of a nonpolar polymer are modified by inclusion of even small amounts of a polar comonomer. In coatings applications the presence of polar repeat units in an otherwise nonpolar polymer reduces the tendency for static buildup during manufacture, printing, and ultimate use. On the other hand, in dielectric applications this increases the power loss and must be kept to a minimum, even to the exclusion of polar initiator fragments. 

The electric properties of polymers are also related to their mechanical behavior. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor are analogous to the elastic compliance and mechanical loss factor. Electric resistivity is analogous to viscosity. Polar polymers, such as ionomers, possess permanent dipole moments. These polar materials are capable of storing... 

We wanted to be able to correct measurements of dielectric loss (conductance) and dielectric constant of polymerizing styrene solutions for whatever contribution arose from the dead polystyrene present in the solutions. What better way to make polystyrene that was free of all catalyst fragments and polar groups than to irradiate pure, dry styrene Using the same exhaustive drying technique that we were developing for our a-methylstyrene studies, we prepared a batch of pure, dry styrene. This was then to be irradiated under such conditions that approximately 15% conversion to polymer would occur. 

Electrical properties — dielectric constant (e), representing polarization dissipation factor (tan 8), representing relaxation phenomena dielectric strength (EB), representing breakdown phenomena and resistivity (pv), an inverse of conductivity — are compared with other polymers in Table 5.14.74 The low dielectric loss and high electrical resistivity coupled with low water absorption and retention of these properties in harsh environments are major advantages of fluorosilicone elastomers over other polymeric materials.74... 

Figure 9 shows the dispersion surface of a film derived from the BCB-1 monomer during heating from room temperature to 200°C. The dielectric constant was found to be relatively flat over this surface with a value of er 2.65 + 0.2. The uncertainty in th measurement was due to the error in measuring the ratio of the sample area to the thickness and is systematic over the entire surface. The slight rise at 10 MHz is due to losses in the experimental rig which could not be properly subtracted out of the measurement. This flat response over such a wide frequency range is characteristic of non-polar polymers. 

Chiu (116) used the apparatus previously described to study the thermal decomposition of selected polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate), po y(vinyl fluoride), po y(vinylidene fluoride), and others. The dielectric constant curves of a group of fluorocarbon polymers are shown in Figure 11.33. As illustrated, the more polar polymers such as poly(vinylidinefiuoride) (PVDF) and poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) show characteristic dielectric loss peaks that are distinguishable from the relatively featureless and low-loss curves of the other polymers. For PVF, the low-temperature process is due... 

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