The dielectric properties of several dialkyl phthalates

Molecularly associated liquids, e. g., alcohols,
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amides,
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etc., have been studied extensively by dielectric methods in the supercooled state. The relaxation features of these liquids have been suggested to arise from the hydrogen-bonded structure in them. Nonassociated liquids, which although are a better model for the understanding of the dielectric behavior, have only recently been shown to supercool readily and have since spurred a considerable interest in their studies.
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We report the main features of the static and the dynamic dielectric behavior of several dialkyl phthalates in the supercooled liquid state. Since these phthalates are also of considerable technical importance in that they are generally used as plasticizers in a variety of polymers, we feel that their dielectric study would also be helpful to polymer scientists who are involved in the use of the commercially available polymers for insulation purposes.