The effect of water on the secondary dielectric relaxations in nylon 66

Dielectric data were taken on nylon 66 at several moisture levels at frequencies from 10 to 105 Hz and temperatures from −70°C to room temperature. Moisture increases the frequency and the peak height for the β relaxation and reduces its activation energy. The peak height of the γ relaxation is reduced by moisture and shifts to slightly higher frequencies with little change in activation energy. The β relaxation follows the pattern of Jonscher and Ngai for a cooperative many‐body process. The γ relaxation is slightly broader than a Debye relaxation and approaches that model quite closely as the temperature is increased. The high‐frequency end of the β relaxation overlaps the γ relaxation.