Electrical Properties of Dielectric Materials at Intermediate Frequencies

Abstract

In this work a coaxial cable is constructed to be used as a sample

holder to measure some electrical properties of polymer samples. Complex

dielectric constant, electrical conductivity and attenuation for Teflon, PVC

and Plexiglas are measured at certain frequencies. All measurements are

carried out at room temperature between 5 and 1800 MHz. Measurements of

scattering parameters are carried out using network analyzer device which

measures the magnitude and phase angle. From these measurements dielectric

constant, which involves permittivity (real part) and loss factor (imaginary

part), is determined as a function of frequency. Electrical conductivity and

attenuation are measured from their relation with loss factor through the

sample or media. The coaxial cable provided us with a satisfactory method

for measuring electrical properties.