Common fluids and their dielectric constant or permittivity

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The Dielectric Constant, or permittivity - ε - is a dimensionless constant that
indicates how easy a material can be polarized by imposition of an electric
field on an insulating material. The constant is

the ratio between the actual material ability to carry an alternating current to
the ability of vacuum to carry the current.

The dielectric constant can be expressed as

ε = ε s / ε0 (1)

where

ε = the dielectric constant

εs = the static permittivity of the material

ε0 = vacuum permittivity

The Dielectric Constant of common fluids are indicated in the table below. The
Dielectric Constant is in general influenced by

 temperature
 moisture levels
 electrical frequency
 part thickness

Temperature Dielectric Constant

Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Acetic Acid 68 6.2

Acetone 77 20.7

1.00058986 ±
Air (at STP, for 0.9 MHz))
0.00000050
 Temperature Dielectric Constant
Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Alcohol, ethyl (ethanol) 77 24.3

Alcohol, methyl (methanol) 68 33.1

Alcohol, propyl 68 21.8

Ammonia (aqua) 68 16.5

Aniline 68 7.3

Benzene 68 2.3

Bromine 68 3.1

Butane 30 1.4

Caproic acid 160 2.6

Carbon disulfide 2.64

Carbon tetrachloride 68 2.23

Castor Oil 60 4.7

Chlorine 32 2.0

Chloroform 68 4.8
 Temperature Dielectric Constant
Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Cotton seed oil 3.1

Cresol 63 10.6

Cumene 68 2.4

Decane 68 2.0

Dodecane 68 2.0

Ether 68 4.3

Ethylamine 70 6.3

Ethylene glycol 68 37.0

Fluorine (freon) refrigerant R-

77 2.0
11

Fluorine refrigerant R-12 77 2.0

Fluorine refrigerant R-22 77 2.0

Furan 77 3.0

Furfural 68 42.0
 Temperature Dielectric Constant
Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Gasoline 70 2.0

Glycerine 47-68

Glycerol 77 42.5

Heptane 68 1.9

Hexane -130 2.0

Hexanol 77 13.3

Hydrazine 68 52.0

Jet fuel 70 1.7

Kerosene 70 1.8

Linoleic Acid 32 2.6-2.9

Linseed Oil 3.2-3.5

Mercury (vapor) 298 1.00074

Methane -280 1.7

Napthalene 68 2.5
 Temperature Dielectric Constant
Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Octane 68 2.0

Olive Oil 68 3.1

Oxygen -315 1.51

Palmitic Acid 160 2.3

Pentane 68 1.8

Phenol 50 4.3

Phosgene 32 4.7

Pinene 68 2.7

Propane 32 1.6

Propylene 11.9

Pyridine 68 1.12

Resorcinol 3.2

Stearic Acid 160 2.3

Styrene 77 2.4
 Temperature Dielectric Constant
Fluid
(oF) -ε-

Terpinene 70 2.7

Toluene 2.0-2.4

Turpentine (wood) 68 2.2

Vacuum (by definition) 1

Water 68 80.4

Typical dielectric values for some common plastic materials are indicated
below:

Dielectric Constant
Plastic Material
-ε-

Acetal 3.7 - 3.9

Acrylic 2.1 - 3.9

ABS 2.9 - 3.4

Nylon 6/6 3.1 - 8.3

Polycarbonate 2.9 - 3.8

Polyester, TP 3.0 - 4.5

 Dielectric Constant
Plastic Material
-ε-

Polypropylene 2.3 - 2.9

Polysulfone 2.7 - 3.8

PPO, Modified 2.4 - 3.1

Polyphenylene sulfide 2.9 - 4.5

Polyacrylate 2.6 - 3.1

Liquid Crystal 3.7 - 10