Dielectric relaxation of acetyl- and benzoyl-acetones

Abstract

Dielectric absorption measurements are reported at radio and microwave frequencies (at six different wavelengths) for acetylacetone and benzoylacetone solutions in benzene, in a temperature range 25–60 °C. Analysis of dielectric data in terms of Cole–Cole arc plots and multiple relaxation processes reveals that, at higher temperatures, overall molecular relaxation is the dominant relaxation mechanism in these β-diketones. The observed relaxation times, distribution parameters, and dipole moments are in reasonable agreement with the few data reported for some temperatures, in the literature. The activation energy parameters are also evaluated assuming dielectric relaxation to be a rate process. Molar polarization vs. weight fraction (concentration) plots show anomalous behaviour for acetylacetone. Keywords: dielectric properties, dielectric losses, relaxation times, dipole moment, dielectric absorption and dispersion, microwave measurements.