Non-Contacting Method of Determining DC Dielectric Constant for a Thin Insulating Polymer Layer

摘要

A method for measuring DC electric permittivity of thin dielectric insulator layers (slab web or sheet) by a pair of field meters used in opposition and in a non-contacting manner is reported. Either residual or artificially induced surface charges, on opposite sides, can be used to effect field sensing. In the procedure, field meters are mounted at a fixed relative separation distance while the placement of the layer in between is adjustable. One-dimensional treatment is adopted when scales of charge heterogeneity on the surface far exceed gap dimensions. Test experiments employing this passive method on polymer plates demonstrate system feasibility for permittivity determination.