Dielectric Properties of Foams by Traceable Free-Space Transmission Method in X-band Range

133
Dielectric Properties of Foams by Traceable Free-Space
Transmission Method in X-band Range
KAMLESH PATEL
Electrical & Electronics Standards, National Physical Laboratory
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi-110012
E-mail: kpatel@nplindia.org
Abstract
Complex permittivity of flexible polyurethane foam and rigid polyethylene foam are determined by the free-
space transmission method in 8.2-12.4 GHz frequency range. The calculated dielectric constant were found in
the range of 1.011 to 1.075 and 1.004 to 1.032 for the polyurethane foam and polyethylene foam respectively,
whereas the loss tangents are in the range of 2.33 x 10
-3
to 0.04 x 10
-2
and 3.65 x 10
-4
to 2.77 x 10
-2
. The
results along with their combined uncertainty may be treated as a standard data for the applications of these
easily available foams in the microwave frequency range. To establish the reliability, a traceability link of these
dielectric property measurements is also presented through the S-parameters measurements, frequency and
dimensional metrology.
Key words : Dielectric property, material sheet, measurement uncertainty, calibration, free-space
method, traceability, Vector network analyzer.
1. Introduction
Dielectric properties of materials are
determined by the measurement of the reflection
and transmission coefficients and its modeling using
free space method [1-5]. Free-space measurements
based on VNA have been well established to
characterize various materials in the form of sheets.
The microwave nondestructive testing of concrete
structures, coatings and paints is reported for the
detection of cracks, defects, inhomogeneities, and
moisture contents etc. [6-8]. These papers briefly
explained the implementation of Thru-Reflect-Line
calibration technique by employing Free-space
standards on VNA for dielectric and magnetic
properties. The accuracy consideration is discussed
on the basis of two kinds of errors, one associated
with the residual post calibration and the other due
to small changes in the references planes. The
maximum errors evaluated for dielectric constant
(2.08) is less than 3.0% and error in loss tangent
(3.7 x 10
-4
) is 0.025 at 10 GHz. Dielectric
properties of cereal Grain and oil seed at microwave
frequency ranges have been reported with bulk
density and moisture content [9-11]. The
expressions of relative errors for dielectric
properties were also derived to estimate the
uncertainty in bulk density and moisture content.
Based on these derived expressions, the
uncertainties are reported in the ranges of 13.3 -
18.9 kg m
-3
for bulk density and 0.49-0.67% for
moisture content.
This paper presents the evaluation of the
dielectric properties of foams made of the
polyethylene (rigid white) and polyurethane (flexible
yellow) at microwave frequencies. The work is the
extension of the previous study on the performance
of established free-space method and its validation
through Teflon and Plaster of Paris sheets
characterization [12]. These foams are used as
weatherproof RF transparent randomes, blankets
Invertis Journal of Science & Technology Vol. 4, No.3, 2011 ; pp. 133-139
(
Kamlesh Patel
134
and covering where radar transparency is required.
The other applications are antenna spacer,
instrument housing and thermal barriers in electric
and electronics applications. The details of the
electrical and mechanical properties for these foams
are readily available [13-14]. In the present work,
theoretical expressions for the uncertainty
estimation have been derived and discussed in details
in terms of measured attenuation and phase,
operating wavelength and thickness of the material
sheets. A traceability path of dielectric property
measurements to the national standards of physical
and electrical parameters is also proposed for
reliability and effectiveness of these results.
2. Material details and Measurement Set-up
The size of material sheet has been chosen to
cover the complete focusing area of antennas. The
width, height and thickness dimensions of
polyethylene and polyurethane foams are 55.30 x
42.70 x 7.00 cm (white) and 64.00 x 40.80 x 4.880
cm (yellow) respectively. The given thickness here
is for uncompressed foams shown in Fig.1.
The setup, measurement conditions and
operating procedure are given elsewhere [12].
Figure 2 shows the free-space transmission
measurement set up used in the present work.
For the analysis purpose, the relative errors
given by equations (22) and (23) in [11] are re-
produced here as equations (1) and (2),
(1)

= + +

'
' "
"
2
A d
A d
(2)
The theoretical expressions of uncertainty are re-
written from [12] as follows.
(3)
(a)
(b)
Fig.1. Experimental foams in the form of sheets (a)
white polyethylene 55.30 x 42.70 x 7.00 cm
3
(white) and (b) yellow polyurethane 64.00 x
40.80 x 4.880 cm
3
(4)
(5)
where, the attenuation A and phase shift are
determined from the measurement of S
21
and the
phase as follows in case of low reflection,
A(dB) = 20 log /

S
21
and () = - 2.n, n
=1,2,3
| |
= + +
|
+ +
\ .
0
'
0 0
2 ' 2 720
. .
360. 360.
d
d d d
0
0 "
0 0
" 2
(360. . )
d d
d
d d d
( | |
= + +
|
+
( \ .
'
0
" '
0
" 1
8.686 2
A d
A d
(
= + + +
(


2
tan ' . " ". '
tan ( ')
+
=

/

Dielectric Properties of Foams by Traceable Free-Space Transmission Method in X-band Range
135

0
(cm) is the free space wavelength and d (cm) is
the sheet thickness.
The equations (3) to (5) are modified version
of the earlier reported (1) and (2) with the addition
of uncertainty in
0
and some of the constant factors
also. In this work for uncertainty estimation of
dielectric constant, loss factor and loss tangent, the
derived equations (3)-(5) are used. Figure 3 displays
the major contributors of the uncertainties in the
calculated , and tan .
The uncertainty in realizing the calibration
standards is equally contributed to S-parameters and
phase measurements due to any error in antenna
alignment and positioning. The uncertainty in the
measured complex S-parameters on VNA has been
estimated as per EA-Guidelines [15] and verified
by the calibrated attenuator and airline prior to
applying the Free-space method. The uncertainty
contributions for attenuation and phase shift have
been taken from the previous study [16] whereas
for
0
and d, the scale used is linked to Vernier caliper
calibration. Thus based on the uncertainty
contributors a self- explanatory traceability route
can be established for dielectric property
measurements, which is presented in Fig. 4.
3. Results and Discussion
After performing TRL recalibrations for free-
space from 8.2 to 12.4 GHz band, a foam sheet
was placed between two antennas using a stand
treated as a sample holder respectively for the
foams. Figure 5 represents the transmission
characteristics of white and yellow foam sheets, as
measured insertion loss, which in turn called the
shielding efficiencies of the respective materials.
It was found that yellow foam is lossier than the
white foam due to higher density though the pattern
is similar over maximum frequency points.
Compositioning with other solvable carbon
products, these foams can provide a promising
shielding to electromagnetic energy with low
manufacturing cost, better structure and solidness.
From the transmission characteristics of white and
yellow foams, their dielectric properties have been
evaluated using equations given in [11-12]. The
variations of , and tan with uncertainty over
the X-band frequency range for white and yellow
foams are shown in Figs.6 (a-c).
Both the foams are having almost the same
range of dielectric constant as that of air, thus mixing
Fig.2. Free-space transmission measurement set up using Vector network analyzer
Kamlesh Patel
136
Fig. 3. Major contributors of uncertainty in dielectric properties
Fig. 4. Traceability path for Dielectric property measurements by Free-space transmission method
Dielectric Properties of Foams by Traceable Free-Space Transmission Method in X-band Range
137
with tiny metallic compounds or solvable ferric or
copper solution, one can develop a series of negative
refractive index materials i.e. metamaterials. As
these foams are spongy in structure i.e. they return
to its normal thickness after getting compressed
and have low density, thus, mixing with metallic
atoms is comparatively easy for changing the design
of the unit cell in the developed material. The yellow
foam has a higher dielectric constant and is lossier
than the white foam because of higher density and
vulnerability to moisture. Except at few frequencies,
both have extremely low loss factor and low loss
tangent over the entire range, this suggests that
measurements with higher precision are again
required to claim their values accurately. These
foams are transparent to electromagnetic energy
due to the low dielectric constant with nominal
change against variation in frequency at the present
state, mixing with conducting polymers may prove
them as effective shielding materials. Table 1
summarizes the overall results with the associated
uncertainties.
4. Conclusion
Establishment of a reliable free-space
Fig. 5. Shielding properties of specimen foams
Fig. 6. Dielectric properties of white and yellow
foams (a) Dielectic constant, (b) Loss factor
and (c) Loss tangent
Kamlesh Patel
138
transmission method is comparatively difficult task
and the major challenges are:
During calibration, keeping the reflection
standard at right place
The accuracy and size of the reflection standard
Movement of the antennas for desired distance
to obtain line standards
Keeping the measurement environment free
from other radiation sources.
A number of re-calibrations have been
performed to reduce the uncertainty contributors
as low as possible. Also the size of the reflection
standard have been kept larger than the size of
material under test to get better results, however
getting accurate reflection standard with such a large
size is quite problematic and future work will focus
on it. Getting high absorbing material for a chamber
is also costly affair. However the efforts are
implemented to reduce the external sources as low
as possible.
White rigid Polyethylene foam and yellow flexible
Polyurethane foam are characterized for their
dielectric properties and the results are found in
good agreement with the manufacturer' s
specifications. The applications of these foams as
shielding materials and metamaterials will be
explored based on the results obtained. Thus the
established method is very useful to counter check
the dielectric properties of supplied material sheets
from the reference data in the X-band frequency
range. The efforts are going on to evaluate the
magnetic properties in the same range and
implementing the proper arrangements to enhance
the accuracy of the results. A traceability link of the
dielectric properties measurements is established
to the national standards of the other parameters
and presented to consider the various uncertainty
contributors while evaluating the combined standard
uncertainty. This method will help in the primary
and quick nondestructive evaluation of the newly
developed materials for its dielectric properties at
NPL, India.
5. Acknowledgement
The author gratefully acknowledges the
contributions made by the authors in the field
previously and support from Director, National
Physical Laboratory and HOD for providing the
Laboratory facilities for the present work. The
author would also like to extend appreciations to
his colleagues Mr. P.S. Negi, Dr. Sreekumar C. and
Dr. R. P. Aloysius' of NPL for their useful technical
comments and suggestions on the manuscript.
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Table 1
Dielectric properties of Foams in 8.2-12.4 GHz frequency range
Parameter Dielectric constant Dielectric Loss Loss tangent tan
/ Material
Range Uncertainty Range Uncertainty Range Uncertainty
Polyethylene Max 1.032 0.014 0.028 3.84E-04 0.028 2.14E-05
Foam Min 1.004 0.014 3.70E-04 2.79E-05 3.65E-04 1.19E-08
Polyurethane Max 1.075 0.014 0.040 0.001 0.040 4.18E-07
Foam Min 1.011 0.014 0.003 6.25E-05 0.002 2.1E-07
Dielectric Properties of Foams by Traceable Free-Space Transmission Method in X-band Range
139
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