Measurement of the Changes in Dissipation Factor and Dielectric Constant as a Method of Evaluating Degradation in Capacitor Oils.

The dissipation factor and dielectric constant were investigated as a method of detecting degradation of capacitor oils used in VLF transmitter capacitors. Except for water in concentrations above saturation, small amounts of polar impurities had no measurable effect on the dissipation factor of the capacitor oil now in use an acid refined, naphthene base, hydrocarbon oil containing some aromatics. The dissipation factor of dibutyl sebacate, a possible candidate oil for use in these capacitors, however, was sensitive to polar contaminants. Author