Dielectric Properties of Liquid Ethanol and 2-Propanol

Abstract

Dielectric constants and loss were measured from room temperature to —160°C for the pure liquids and mixtures with small amounts of water to facilitate supercooling. Two distinct dispersion regions were found below —100°C in the experimental frequency range from 1 cy/sec to 5 Mc/sec. The temperature dependences are similar and described by rate laws of the form found for similar measurements in 1‐propanol. An explanation of the multiple dispersions in terms of hydrogen bond breaking to permit reorientation of alkyl and hydroxyl groups is discussed.