Dielectric loss in paraffin-wax solutions

In this paper, the dielectric loss of a dilute solution of long-chain molecules, containing dipoles, in solid paraffin is investigated theoretically. In such substances, realized experimentally by Jackson, Sillars and Pelmore, the interaction between dipoles is negligible, and they thus follow the Debye theory. In order to account for the time of relaxation τ, the structure of these substances is investigated and it is shown that only the case where the dipole-containing chain molecule is shorter than the paraffin molecule can be expected to yield simple results. In order to obtain τ, the minimum energy V required to turn a molecule from one equilibrium position to another has been calculated. For short molecules, V is mainly determined by the potential hill between two equilibrium positions, whereas for long molecules an internal torsion of the molecule becomes important. V is found to increase linearly with chain length for very short molecules, and to tend towards an asymptotic value for long chains. Good agreement with experiments, so far as available at present, has been reached.