User’s Manual

STUDY OF DIELECTRIC CONSTANT

Model: DEC-01
(Rev : 01/04/2019)

Manufactured by:
SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd.
452, Adarsh Nagar,
Roorkee-247 667 UK
Ph.: 01332-272852, Fax: 277118
Email: [email protected] ISO 9001:2015
Certified Company
Website: www.sesinstruments.com
 CONTENTS

Section Page

1. Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return 1

2. Safety Information 2
 General Safety Summary
 Symbols
3. Unpacking and Inspecting the Instrument 4
4. Storing and Shipping the Instrument 4
5. Power Considerations 4
 Replacing the Fuse
 Connecting to Power Line
 Turning Power ON
6. Cleaning the Instrument 6
7. Introduction 7
8. Packing List 8
9. Perovskite Structure 8
10. Barium Titanate 8
11. Dielectric Constant 9
12. Brief Description of the Apparatus 9
13. Experimental Procedure 10
14. Observation & Calculations 11
15. Typical Result 11
16. Precautions 12
17. Reference 12
18. Technical support 13
 COPYRIGHT AND WARRANTY

Please – Feel free to duplicate this manual subject to the copyright restriction given below.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd Model DEC-01 Study of Dielectric Constant manual is
copyrighted and all rights reserved. However, permission is granted to non-profit education
institutions for reproduction of any part of this manual provided the reproduction is used only
for their laboratories and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances,
without the written consent of SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd is prohibited.

LIMITED WARRANTY

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of one year from the date of shipment to the customer. SES
Instruments Pvt. Ltd will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the product which is
deemed to be defective in material or workmanship. This warranty does not cover damage to
the product caused by abuse or improper use. Determination of whether a product failure is the
result of manufacturing defect or improper use by the customer shall be made solely by SES
Instruments Pvt. Ltd. Responsibility for the return of equipment for warranty repair belongs to
the customer. Equipment must be properly packed to prevent damage and shipped postage or
freight prepaid. (Damage caused by improper packaging of the equipment for return shipment
will not be covered by the warranty). Shipping costs for returning the equipment, after repair,
will be paid by SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd.

EQUIPMENT RETURN

Should this product have to be returned to SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd, for whatever reason,
notify SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd BEFORE returning the product. Upon notification, the return
authorization and shipping instructions will be promptly issued.

Note : No equipment will be accepted for return without an authorization.

When returning equipment for repair, the units must be packed properly. Carriers will not
accept responsibility for damage by improper packing. To be certain the unit will not be
damaged in shipment, observe the following rules:
1. The carton must be strong enough for the item shipped.
2. Make certain there is at least two inches of packing material between any point on the
apparatus and the inside walls of the carton.
3. Make certain that the packing material can not displace in the box, or get compressed, thus
letting the instrument come in contact with the edge of the box.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 1

SAFETY INFORMATION

This Section addresses safety considerations and describes symbols that may appear on the
Instrument or in the manual.
A Warning Statement identifies conditions or practices that could result in injury or death. A
Caution statement identifies conditions or practices that could result in damage to the
Instrument or equipment to which it is connected.

Warning
To avoid electric shock, personal injury, or death, carefully read the information in
Table-1, “Safety Information,” before attempting to install, use, or service the
Instrument.

GENERAL SAFETY SUMMARY

This equipment is Class 1 equipment tested in accordance with the European Standard
publication EN 61010-1.
This manual contains information and warnings that must be observed to keep the Instrument
in a safe condition and ensure safe operation.
To use the Instrument correctly and safely, read and follow the precautions in Table 1 and
follow all safety instructions or warnings given throughout this manual that relate to specific
measurement functions. In addition, follow all generally accepted safety practices and
procedures required when working with and around electricity.

SYMBOLS

Table 2 lists safety and electrical symbols that appear on the Instrument or in this manual.
Table 2. Safety and Electrical Symbols

Symbols Description Symbols Description

Risk of danger. Important

Earth ground
information. See Manual.

Hazardous voltage. Voltage

>30Vdc or ac peak might be Potentially hazardous voltage
present.
Do not dispose of this product as
Static awareness. Static unsorted municipal waste.
discharge can damage parts. Contact SES or a qualified
recycle for disposal.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 2

 Table 1. Safety Information

Warning

To avoid possible electric shock, personal injury, or death, read the following before
using the Instrument:

 Use the Instrument only as specified in this manual, or the protection provided by
the Instrument might be impaired.
 Do not use the Instrument in wet environments
 Inspect the Instrument in wet environments.
 Inspect the Instrument before using it. Do not use the Instrument if it appears
damaged.
 Inspect the connecting lead before use. Do not use them if insulation is damaged or
metal is exposed. Check the connecting leads for continuity. Replace damaged
connecting leads before using the Instrument.
 Whenever it is likely that safety protection has been impaired, make the
Instrument inoperative and secure it against any unintended operation.
 Have the Instrument serviced only by qualified service personnel.
 Always use the power cord and connector appropriate for the voltage and outlet of
he country or location in which you are working.
 Never remove the cover or open the case of the Instrument before without first
removing it from the main power source.
 Never operate the Instrument with the cover removed or the case open.
 Use only the replacement fuses specified by the manual.
 Do not operate the Instrument around explosive gas, vapor or dust.
 When servicing the Instrument, use only specified replacement parts.
 The equipment can remain Switched on continuously for five hours
 The equipment must remain Switched off for at least fifteen minutes before being
switched on again.
 The equipment is only for the intended use
 Use the equipment only as specified in this manual.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 3

Unpacking and Inspecting the Instrument

Every care is taken in the choice of packing material to ensure that your Instrument will reach
you in perfect condition. If the Instrument has been subject to excessive handling in transit,
there may be visible external damage to the shipping container and packing material for the
carrier’s inspection.
Carefully unpack the Instrument from its shipping container and inspect the contents for
damaged or missing items. If the Instrument appears damaged or something is missing,
contacts the carrier and SES immediately. Save the container and packing material in case you
have to return the Instrument.

Storing and Shipping the Instrument

To prepare the Instrument for storage or shipping, if possible, use the original shipping
container alongwith thermocoal corners, as it provides shock isolation for normal handling
operations. If the original shipping container is not available, use any good cardboard box
which is at least 2-3 inches bigger than the instrument on all sides, with cushioning material
(thermocoal or styrofoam etc) that fills the space between the Instrument and the side of this
box.
To store the Instrument, place the box under cover in a location that complies with the storage
environment specification described in the “Environment Sections” below.

Environment

Temperature
Operating …………………………………. 0°C to 50°C
Storage …………………………………… 40°C to 70°C
Warm Up …………………………………15 min to full uncertainty specification

Relatively Humidity (non-condensing)

Operating ………………………………….Uncontrolled (<10°C)
<90 % (10°C to 30°C)
<75 % (30°C to 40°C)
<45 % (40°C to 50°C)
Storage………………………………….. -10°C to 60°C <95 %

Power Considerations

The Instrument operates on varying power distribution standards found throughout the world
and must be set up to operate on the line voltage that will power it. The Instrument is packed
ready for use with a line voltage determined at the time of ordering.

Replacing the Fuses

The Instrument uses one fuse to protect the line-power input and two fuses to protect current-
measurement inputs.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 4

Line-Power Fuse

The Instrument has a line-power fuse in series with the power supply. Table 3 indicates the
proper fuse for each of the four line-voltage selections. The line-power fuse is accessed
through the real panel.
1. Unplug the power cord.
2. Rotate the fuse holder cap to the right until the fuse POPS out.
3. Remove the fuse and replace it with a fuse of an appropriate rating for the selected line-
power voltage. See Table 2.

Warning
To avoid electric shock or fire, do not use makeshift fuses or short-circuit the fuse holder.
Table 2. Line Voltage to Fuse Rating

Line Voltage Selection Fuse Rating

220/ 240 V 1A, 250V (Slow blow)

100/ 120 V 2A, 250 V (Slow blow)

Connecting to Line Power

Warning
To avoid shock hazard, connect the factory supplies three conductor line power cord to a
properly grounded power outlet. Do not use a two-conductor adapter or extension cord, as
this will break the protective ground connection. If a two conductor power cord must be
used, a protective grounding wire must be connected between the ground terminal and
earth ground before connecting the power cord or operating the Instrument.

1. Verify that the Line voltage is set to the correct setting.

2. Verify that the correct fuse for the line voltage is installed.

3. Connect the power cord to a properly grounded three-prong outlet. See Figure 1 for
line-power cord types available from SES. Refer to Table 2 for description of the
line-power cords.

Plug-1 Plug-2 Plug-3

Figure 1. Line-Power Cord Types Available from SES

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 5

 Table 3. Line-Power Cord Types Available from SES

Type Voltage/Current SES Model Number

India 240 V/ 5 A Plug-1

North America 120 V/15 A Plug-2

Universal Euro 220 V/16 A Plug-3

Turning Power On

The On-Off switch on the front panel when points towards “ON” signs, indicates that the
equipment has been switched on.

Cleaning the Instrument

Warning

To avoid electric shock or damage to the Instrument, never get water inside the Instrument.

Caution

To avoid damaging the Instrument’s housing, do not apply solvents to the Instrument.
If the Instrument requires cleaning, wipe it down with a cloth that is lightly dampened with
water or a mild detergent. Do not use aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohol, chlorinated solvents, or
methanol-based fluids when wiping down the Instrument.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 6

 - + - + - +

Charge - + - + - +
+Q -Q
- + - + - +

- + - + - +

- + - + - +

- + - + - +

Electric - + - + - +
field E
- + - + - +

- + - + - +

Dielectric

Polarised molecules

Figure 2
STUDY OF DIELECTRIC CONSTANT AND CURIE TEMPERATURE
MEASUREMENT OF FERROELECTRIC CERAMICS, DEC-01

INTRODUCTION
Research in the area of Ferroelectrics is driven by the market potential of next
generation memories and transducers. Thin films of ferroelectrics and dielectrics are rapidly
emerging in the field of MEMS applications. Ultrasonic micro-motors utilizing PZT thin films
and pyroelectric sensors using micro-machined structures have been fabricated. MEMS are
finding growing aplication in accelerometers for air bag deployment in cars, micro-motors and
pumps, micro heart valves, which have reached the commercial level of exploitation in
compact medical, automotive, and space applications. Extremely sensitive sensors and
actuators based on thin film and bulk will revolutionize every walk of our life with Hi-Tech
gadgets based on ferroelectrics. Wide spread use of such sensors and actuators have made
Hubble telescope a great success story. New bulk ferroelectric and their composites are the key
components for the defence of our air space, the long coastline and deep oceans.
The quest of human beings for developing better and more efficient materials is never
ending. Material Scinece has played a vital role in the development of society. Characterization
is an important step in the development of different types of new materials. This experiment is
aimed to expose the young students to Dielectric and Curie Temperature Measurement
techinque for Ferroelectric Ceramics.
Dielectric or electrical insulating materials are understood as the materials in which
electrostatic fileds can persist for a long time. These materials offer a very high resisitance to
the passage of electric current under the action of the applied direct-current voltage and
therefore sharply differ in their basic electrical properties from conductive materials. Layers of
such substances are commonly inserted into capacitors to improve their performance, and the
term dielectric refers specifically to this application.
The use of a dielectric in a capacitor presents several advantages. The simplest of these
is that the conducting plates can be placed very close to one another without risk of contact.
Also, if subjected to a very high electric field, any substance will ionize and become a
conductor. Dielectrics are more resistant to ionization than air, so a capacitor containing a
dielectric can be subjected to a higher voltage. Also, dielectrics increase the capacitance of the
capacitor. An electric field polarizes the molecules of the dielectric (Figure-1), producing
concentrations of charge on its surfaces that create an electric field opposed (antiparallel) to
that of the capacitor. Thus, a given amount of charge produces a weaker field between the
plates than it would without the dielectric, which reduces the electric potential. Considered in
reverse, this argument means that, with a dielectric, a given electric potential causes the
capacitor to accumulate a larger charge.
The electrons in the molecules shift toward the positively charged left plate. The
molecules then create a leftward electric field that partially annuls the field created by the
plates. (The air gap is shown for clarity; in a real capacitor, the dielectric is in direct contact
with the plates.)

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 7

 A
O

Figure 3 (a)
Figure 3 (a). Perovskite ABO3 structure with the A and B cations on the corner and
body center positions, respectively. Three oxygen anions per unit cell
occupy the faces and form octahedra surrounding the B-site.

Figure 3 (b)
Figure 3 (b) Perovskite structure (Ba: Grey; Ti: Black; O: White)

Ti 4+

Ba2+

O2-

(b) (a)
Figure 4 Perovskite unit cell and the displacements in its ions on the application
of an electric field.
PACKING LIST
1. Study of Dielectric Constant, DEC-01: One
2. Probe Arrangement with RTD Sensor: One
3. Sample: One [Barium Titanate (BaTiO3)]
4. Aluminium Foil: One
5. Dielectric Constant Oven: One

PEROVSKITE STRUCTURE
Perovskite is a family name of a group of materials and the mineral name of calcium
titanate (CaTiO3) having a structure of the type ABO3. Many piezoelectric (including
ferroelectric) ceramics such as Barium Titanate (BaTiO3), Lead Titanate (PbTiO3), Lead
Zirconate Titanate (PZT), Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate (PLZT), Lead Magnesium
Niobate (PMN), Potassium Niobate (KNbO3) etc. have a cubic perovskite type structure (in the
paraelectric state) with chemical formula ABO3 (figure 2 a, b).
As conventionally drawn, A-site cations occupy the corners of a cube, while B-site
cations sit at the body center. Three oxygen atoms per unit cell rest on the faces. The lattice
constant of these perovskite is always close to the 4 Å due to rigidity of the oxygen octahedral
network and the well-defined oxygen ionic radius of 1.35 Å.
A practical advantage of the perovskites structure is that many different cations can be
substituted on both the A and B sites without drastically changing the overall structure.
Complete solid solutions are easily formed between many cations, often across the entire range
of composition. Even though two cations are compatible in solution, their behavior can be
radically different when apart from each other. Thus, it is possible to manipulate a material’s
properties such as Curie Temperature or dielectric constant with only a small substitution of a
given cation.
All ferroelectric materials have a transition temperature called the Curie point (Tc). At a
temperature T > Tc the crystal does not exhibit ferroelectricity, while for T < Tc it is
ferroelectric. On decreasing the temperature through the Curie point, a ferroelectric crystal
undergoes a phase transition from a non-ferroelectric (paraelectric) phase to a ferroelectric
phase.

BARIUM TITANATE (BaTiO3, BT)

Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) has a ferroelectric tetragonal phase (Fig-3(a)) below its curie
point of about 120C and paraelectric cubic phase (Fig-3(b)) above Curie point. The
temperature of the curie point appreciably depends on the impurities present in the sample and
the synthesis process.
In the paraelectric cubic phase the center of positive charges (Ba2+, Ti4+) coincide with
the center of negative charges (0-2 ion) and on cooling below Tc, a tetragonal phase develops
where the center of Ba2+ and Ti4+ ions are displaced relative to the 02- ions, leading to the
formation of electric dipoles.
As the BT ceramics have a very large room temperature dielectric constant, they are
mainly used in multilayer capacitor applications. The grain size control is very important for
these applications.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 8

Fig. 5. Dielectric Constant Arrangement
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT
The dielectric constant () of a dielectric material can be defined as the ratio of the
capacitance using that material as the dielectric in a capacitor to the capacitance using a
vacuum as the dielectric. Typical values of  for dielectrics are:

Material DIELECTRIC CONSTANT ()

Vacuum 1.000
Dry Air 1.0059
Barium Titanate 100-1250
Glass 3.8-14.5
Quartz 5
Mica 4-9
Water distilled 34-78
Soil dry 2.4-2.9
Titanium dioxide 100
Dielectric constant () is given by
C  A
 , C0  0
C0 t
Where
C = capacitance using the material as the dielectric in the capacitor,
C0 = capacitance using vacuum as the dielectric
0 = Permittivity of free space (8.85 x 10-12 F/m)
A = Area of the plate/ sample cross section area
t = Thickness of the sample

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS

1. Probe Arrangement
As shown in Fig. 4, it has two spring loaded probes. These probe move in pipes and are
insulated by teflon bush, which ensure a good electrical insulation. The probe arrangement
is mounted in suitable stand, which also hold the sample plate and RTD sensor. The RTD is
mounted in the sample plates such that it is just below the sample, separated by a very thin
sheet of mica. This ensures the correct measurement of sample temperature. This stand also
serves as a lid of the oven. The leads are provided for the connection to RTD and
capacitance meter.
2. Sample
Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) plate with top and bottom conducting surface.
3. Oven
This is a high quality temperature controlled oven. The oven has been designed for fast
heating and cooling rates, which enhance the effectiveness of the controller.

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 Capacitance Display Range Selector Temperature Display
Meter Switch Meter

STUDY OF DIELECTRIC CONSTANT

Model : DEC-01

pf C

CAPACITANCE OVEN TEMPERATURE

ON OFF

PROBE
SET. TEMP RTD OVEN ON
TERMINALS

Tempearure Set RTD Oven Mains ON/OFF

Probe Connector
Knob Connector Connector Switch

Oven

Fig. 6. Panel Diagram of Dieletric Constant Set-up, DEC-01

4. Main Units
The Set-up consists of two units housed in the same cabinet Fig. 5.
(i) Oven Controller
Platinum RTD (A class) has been used for sensing the temperature. A Wheatstone bridge
and an instrumentation amplifier are used for signal conditioning. Feedback circuit
ensures offset and linearity trimming and a fast accurate control of the oven temperature.
Specifications of the Oven
Temperature Range : Ambient to 200 °C
Resolution : 0.1 °C
Stability :  .1 °C
Measurement Accuracy :  0.5 °C
Oven : Specially designed for Dielectric measurement
Sensor : RTD (A class)
Display : 3½ digit, 7 segment LED with autopolarity and decimal indication
Input : 220±10%AC 50Hz
Power Dissipation : 150W

(ii) Digital Capacitance Meter

This a compact direct reading instrument for the measurement of capacitance of the
sample.
Specifications
Range : 50 to 6000 pf
Resolution : 1pf
Display : 3½ digit, 7 segment LED

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Put a small piece of aluminum foil on the base plate. Pull the spring loaded probes
upward, insert the aluminum foil and let them rest on it. Put the sample (BaTiO3) on the
foil. Again pull the top of one of the probe and insert the sample below it and let it rest on
it gently. Now one of the probes would be in contact with the upper surface of the sample,
while the other would be in contact with the lower surface through aluminum foil.
2. Connect the probe leads to the capacitance meter.
3. Connect the oven to the main unit and put the oven in OFF position.
4. Switch on the main unit and note the value of capacitance. It should be a stable reading
and is obtained directly in pf.
a. Switch ON the temperature Controller and approx adjust the set-temperature. The
green LED would light up indicating the oven is ON and temperature would start
rising. The temperature of the oven in °C would be indicated by the DPM.
b. The controller of the oven would switch ON/OFF power corresponding to set-
temperature. In case it is less then the desired, the set-temperature may be increased
or vice versa.
c. Because of thermal inertia of oven, there would be some over shoot and under shoot
before a steady set-temperature is attained and may take 10 minutes for each reading.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 10

Fig. 7. A plot of temprature v/s dielectric constant
 d. To save time, it is recommended to under adjust the temperature. Example, it is
desired to set at 50°C, adjust the temperature set knob so that LED is OFF at 45°C.
The temperature would continue to rise. When it reaches 50°C adjust the temperature
set knob so that oven is just ON/OFF. It may go up 1 & 2°C, but would settle down
to 50°C. Since the change in temperature at this stage is very slow and response of
RTD and sample is fast, the reading can also be taken corresponding to any
temperature without waiting for a steady state.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Sample : Barium Titanate (BaTiO3)
Area (A) : 93.66 mm2
Thickness (t) : 2.26 mm
Permittivity of Space (0) : 8.85 x 10-12 F/m or 8.85 x 10-3 pf/ mm
C  A 8.85  10 3  93 .66
 ; where, C 0  0   366.75  10 -3 pf
C0 t 2.26

S.No. Temperature (°C) Capacitance, C (pf) Dielectric Constant, ()

1 19.1 619 1691
2 20 628 1716
3 30 647 1768
4 40 643 1757
5 50 637 1740
6 60 643 1757
7 70 652 1781
8 80 665 1817
9 90 697 1904
10 100 739 2019
11 110 809 2210
12 115 865 2363
13 118 917 2505
14 120 934 2552
15 122 956 2612
16 124 973 2658
17 126 988 2699
18 128 1000 2732
19 130 1005 2746
20 132 999 2730
21 134 982 2683
22 136 963 2631

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 S.No. Temperature (°C) Capacitance, C (pf) Dielectric Constant, ()
23 140 917 2505
24 145 870 2377
25 150 810 2213
26 155 768 2098
27 160 726 1984
28 165 686 1874
29 170 653 1784

TYPICAL RESULTS
1. A plot of temperature v/s dielectric constant is shown in Fig. 7.
2. From the graph, Curie Temperature (Tc) = 131C

PRECAUTIONS
(1) The spring loaded probe should be allowed to rest on the sample very gently, other wise it
may damage the conducting surface of the sample or even break the sample.
(2) The reading of capacitance meter should be taken when the oven is OFF. This would be
indicated by the green LED. In ON position there may be some pick ups.
(3) The reading near the Curie temperature should be taken at closer intervals, say 1C.

REFERENCE
Introduction to Solid State Physics – C. Kittle, Wiley Eastern Limited (5th Edition).

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 12

 TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Feed Back

If you have any comments or suggestions about this product or this manual please let us know. SES
Instruments Pvt. Ltd. appreciates any customer feedback. Your input helps us evaluate and
improve our product.

To reach SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd.

* Phone : +91-1332-272852, 277118

* Fax : +91-1332 - 277118
* e-mail : [email protected]; [email protected]

Contacting for Technical Support

Before you call the SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. Technical Support staff it would be helpful to prepare
the following information:

 If you problem is with the SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd apparatus, note :
o Model number and S. No (usually listed on the label at the backside of instrument).
o Approximate age of the apparatus.
o A detailed description of the problem/ sequences of events may please be sent by email
or Fax.

 If your problem relates to the instruction manual, note;

Model number and Revision (listed by month and year on the front cover).
Have the manual at hand to discuss your questions.

SES Instruments Pvt. Ltd. DEC-01 Page 13