Dielectric Constant (DC) and Dissipation Factor (DF)
ASTM D150, IEC 60250
Dielectric Constant is used to determine the ability of an insulator to store electrical energy. The dielectric constant is the ratio of the capacitance induced by two metallic plates with an insulator between them to the capacitance of the same plates with air or a vacuum between them. Dissipation factor is defined as the reciprocal of the ratio between the insulating materials capacitive reactance to its resistance at a specified frequency. It measures the inefficiency of an insulating material. If a material were to be used for strictly insulating purposes, it would be better to have a lower dielectric constant.
Dielectric Constant and Dissipation Factor – The relative dielectric constant; for practical purposes, the ratio of the capacitance of an assembly of two electrodes separated solely by a plastic’s insulating material to its capacitance when the electrodes are separated by air (ASTM D150-59T).