Dielektrikumide

Dielektrikumide is a form that appears in some languages as the plural of dielektrikum, meaning dielectrics. In encyclopedia usage, the term refers to dielectric materials, which are insulating substances that can be polarized by an electric field. Dielectrics do not conduct significant electric current under normal conditions, but they support electric fields through polarization.

The defining properties of dielectrics include relative permittivity (dielectric constant), which quantifies how much the material reduces an electric field relative to vacuum. Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field a material can withstand before breakdown, while dielectric loss describes energy dissipated as heat. The loss tangent (or dissipation factor) characterizes frequency- and temperature-dependent losses. These properties depend on composition, structure, temperature, and the frequency of the applied field.

Dielectrics are classified by composition and structure into categories such as inorganic ceramics, polymers, liquids, and composites. Examples include ceramic materials like barium titanate, polymer dielectrics such as polyethylene and polyimide, and liquid dielectrics like mineral oil. Their roles range from insulating barriers to functional components in electronic devices.

Applications span capacitors, cable and transformer insulation, printed circuit boards, and various high-voltage equipment. In research and engineering, dielectric spectroscopy is used to study relaxation processes, molecular mobility, and the microstructure of dielectric materials.

See also: dielectric constant, polarization, dielectric breakdown, dielectric spectroscopy.