Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric Properties of Long-Chain Aliphatic Alcohols in the Solid State

Abstract

The dielectric properties of three primary and three secondary long-chain aliphatic alcohols have been investigated within the temperature range of -20 to 70 °C. The experimental results are discussed in relation to the theory of Sack on dielectric absorption in linear polar chains and to the conclusions reached in earlier papers on the dielectric properties of these compounds. The apparent activation energies in the primary alcohols are approximately three times those in the secondary alcohols. This indicates either different mechanisms of absorption in the two types of alcohols or, if the mechanisms are the same, significant differences in the energy barriers involved.