Column Control DTX

Materials Testing: Applications of Dielectric Materials

Application Notes

Overview 

Increasing capability and performance of electronic equipment are supported by the development of new devices, which in turn is enabled by progress in material science and process technologies. Dielectric materials play a key role in electronic circuits such as capacitors or insulators. Characterization of these materials in the early stage of development is essential to predict the performance of the final devices. 

The electrical properties of dielectric material are characterized by its complex permittivity. The real part of permittivity also called the dielectric constant, represents the material’s ability to store energy when an external electric field is applied. Materials with a higher dielectric constant can store more energy in a small volume, while those with a lower value are preferred for signal transmission where minimum propagation delay is critical.

The imaginary part of permittivity represents the loss dissipated in the material. Loss of material can lead to extra power consumption. It is possible to achieve various dielectric constants by controlling the microstructure of ceramics or nano composition of materials.  Impedance analyzers can be used with dielectric material test fixtures to provide a precise, repeatable, cost-effective, and easy-to-operate measurement system over a wide frequency range. 

Problem 

There are various ways of measuring dielectric constant, however, it requires specialized knowledge of electromagnetic field theory. 

The parallel plate capacitance method is generally used in low-frequency, which measures the capacitance of the material sandwiched between the two electrodes. Its principle is straightforward, but precise measurements are difficult due to measurement errors, especially for low-loss materials. 

The complex permittivity is not a constant over a wide frequency range and must be evaluated at the frequency where the material is used, however, at higher frequencies, errors due to the measurement system become significant. 

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Column Control DTX