• Mestec GmbH

Dielectric Module

Dielectric spectroscopy is a versatile and straightforward analysis method to gain insight into the molecular dynamics of many materials. The basis for this technology is that application of an electric field to a dielectric tends to orient the permanent dipoles inherent in most molecular constituents of matter. The Mestec Dielectric Module DM 1360, designed by Dr Ranko Richert from the MaxPlanck-Institute in Mainz, Germany, addresses laboratories equipped with a gain-phase analyser, such as the Solartron SI-1260 or lock-in amplifiers such as the Stanford SR-850. These instruments offer insufficient current sensitivity in order to exploit the low frequency range (10-3 Hz to 10 Hz) of the built-in generators for dielectric relaxation measurements, and their dynamic range cannot cover 10 decades of dynamic signal behaviour. When combined with Solartron's 1260 gain-phase analyzer, the DM 1360 can measure e*(w) in the wide frequency range of 10-3 to 107 Hz, with a resolution better than tan(d) 10-3 for the bulk of this range. The DM 1360 can be used for the following key applications: impedance analysis of electrical components, networks, and materials; precise dielectric relaxation-spectroscopy e*(w) on liquids, solid state materials, polymers, ceramics etc; measurements of absolute values for dielectric constants and DC-conductivities, including contact free; material characterisation by AC and DC losses. In contrast to similar commercially available dielectric instruments, the DM 1360 needs no feedback selection and is therefore an extremely compact and easy to use measurement tool. The DM 1360 provides an effective, easy-to-use method for dielectric relaxation spectroscopy with excellent price performance.