Dielectric Studies. Part XXXI. Analysis of the Dielectric Data of Phenol and its Polymerized Forms

Abstract

The dielectric absorption and dispersions of several solutions of phenol in p-xylene have been measured at four microwave frequencies and at 2 MHz at a temperature of 25 °C. The data have been analyzed in terms of a mean relaxation time, a distribution parameter, and an apparent dipole moment which are useful empirical parameters for assessing the state of aggregation of the phenol molecules. The relaxation time at the lowest practicable concentration (0.02 mole fraction) is long for a molecule expected to relax predominantly by an intramolecular process. This and the behavior of the relaxation time and apparent dipole moment with increasing concentration are considered in terms of a model based on progressive association into an extended series of multimers, the trimer having a zero (or low) dipole moment and higher multimers becoming increasingly flexible.