Low frequency dielectric spectroscopy characterization of microcrystalline cellulose, tablets and paper

Cellulose fibres and particles in the form of powder, tablets and paper sheets have been investigated by very low frequency dielectric spectroscopy using a novel form of dielectric cell, in which two planar electrodes have been mounted in fixed positions at right angles. The broad pattern of response obtained from the samples is independent of the structural form of the cellulose sample, a loss peak in the 0.1–100 Hz range, and at lower frequencies a dispersion process which is dominated by an imperfect charge transport. Moisture has a significant influence on the rate of charge transport. In dry samples the dipolar loss peak was not evident but as the moisture content increased it appeared. Using a humidity normalizing technique the dielectric response for microcrystalline cellulose has been characterized over the equivalent of 14 decades in frequency. It has also been shown that there is a linear response between the capacitance and the density of microcrystalline cellulose samples. The consolidation of powder into tablets is discussed with respect of the observations of changes in capacitance, loss peak frequency and imperfect charge transport efficiency. Furthermore it was found possible to investigate differences between the dipolar relaxation rate “in” and “out” of the plane of paper in the stack. The relaxation time for dipoles “out” of the paper plane is 7 to 8 times longer than for dipoles “in” the paper plane.