Polymer Bulletin, Vol.60, No.5, 689-700, 2008
Characterization of ionic conduction and electrode polarization relaxation processes in ethylene glycol oligomers
The complex relative dielectric function, dielectric loss tangent, electric modulus, alternating current electrical conductivity and impedance spectra of ethylene glycol oligomers (EGOs) i.e., ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and poly(ethylene glycol)s of average molecular weight 200, 300, 400 and 600 g mol(-1) have been investigated in the frequency range 20 Hz to 1 MHz at 25 degrees C. These EGOs show the low frequency dielectric/electrical dispersion due to electrode polarization and ionic conduction effects. The 'master curves representation' of the real and imaginary parts of the intensive dielectric/electrical functions were used to evaluate the relaxation times corresponding to these effects processes. The comparative dielectric study of EGOs confirms that the values of low frequency relaxation times and direct current electrical conductivity are influenced by the chain flexibility and its random coiling.