ELECTRIC CONSTANT AND LOSS FACTOR

The loss is converted to heat (dissipation). For low values of 6, the losses are low so that in the limit 6 = 0, there is no loss (this is the ideal capacitor). Low values of tan 6 may be approximated as tan 6 sin 6 cos 6, where cos 6 is defined as the power factor, 6 represents the angle between the direction of the voltage and current in an alternating current. Then Power = Voltage X Current x Power Factor. The loss factor approximately equals the product of the power factor and the dielectric constant, all values taken at a frequency of 60 Hertz. In nonpolar polymers (Teflon, polyolefins, polystyrene) 

FIGURE 4 39 Complex dielectric constant in alternating current 

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