Further study of high field dielectric effects in H2O, D2O and ionic solutions

Abstract

High field dielectric measurements of the Piekara factor Δε/E² have been carried out for H₂O and D₂O at 293 K and as a function of temperature, and also in the case of H₂O in the presence of small amounts of added electrolyte (KCl). The value of (–Δε/E²) at 293 K for both H₂O and D₂O was found to be (0.8 ± 0.12)× 10^–15 m² V^–2. (–Δε/E²) for both H₂O and D₂O was found to follow a 1/T³ temperature dependence. Both sets of data indicate agreement between the measured values and the predicted values on the basis of the classical orientational dipolar non-linear effect. The data for the ionic solutions were found to be as expected for low conductivities, but for conductivities above about 5 × 10^–4 S m^–1 the occurrence of significant heat losses during the pulse and/or electrode polarisation effects is indicated.