Dielectric properties of cyanoethylcellulose

Previously reported measurements on the high dielectric constant polymer, cyanoethylcellulose, (C. W. Lewis and D. H. Hogle, J. Polymer Science 21, 411 (1956).) have been extended to a wide temperature range with material of three different degrees of substitution. Dielectric data from -76°C to 150°C over a frequency range from 25 cycles to 45 megacycles has been obtained from mono-(6.5% N), di-((10.4%) N), and “tri”-(12.6% N) cyanoethylated cellulose. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor variation with frequency is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for two temperatures. Dissipation factor data for cellulose (cellophane), by Stoops, (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 56, 1480 (1934).) as plotted in Figure 2 illustrates a relaxation time for the OH dipole in cellulose of the same order of magnitude as for the cyanodipole in the cyanoethylated compound.