The dielectric behavior of glassy amorphous polymers at 2.45 GHz

The dielectric behavior of glassy thermoplastic polymer in the microwave frequency range was investigated. Specifically, the relationship between energy absorption and temperature for several thermoplastic systems was examined to test the theoretical basis for heating under microwave irradiation. Irradiation under traveling and standing wave conditions were explored. The heating rate versus temperature data at a frequency of 2.45 GHz yielded a microwave calorimetry procedure for examination of the dielectric and relaxation behaviors. Correlations were drawn between (a) the apparent activation energy and the critical temperature, and (b) the shape of the dielectric spectra at 2.45 GHz and its shape in the kHz region. WLF relationships were examined for glassy thermoplastics to show the difference in changing activation energy with temperature.