Paraffin Wax Dielectric Constant (2nd attempt)

Results - No good

These results are no good because I was hurrying at the time and forgot to zero the meter before making the measurements.

The dielectric constant as determined by the method below is: 1.34. 1.34 is the capacitance of the wax capacitor (0.133 nF) divided by the capacitance of the air capacitor (0.099 nF).

The test was made using a parallel plate capacitor where the plates were aluminum of dimensions .8mm x 101.6mm x 101.6mm. The spacing between the plates was 4mm. To calculate the dielectric constant two capacitors were made: one with paraffin wax for the dielectric, the other with air for the dielectric. The dimensions of the wax were 122mm x 122mm x 4mm. The air gap for the air capacitor was 4mm. The capacitance of each was measured using the capacitance measuring feature of a Fluke 187 True RMS Multimeter. The two measurements made are detailed in the pictures below.

The measurement in this case was 0.133 nF.
Measuring the capacitance of a paraffin wax dielectric capacitor with a digital multimeter (DMM).
The measurement with air was 0.099 nF.
Measuring the capacitance of an air dielectric capacitor with a digital multimeter (DMM).
The setup for measuring the wax capacitor.
The setup of measuring the capacitance of a paraffin wax dielectric capacitor with a digital multimeter (DMM).
The setup for measuring the air capacitor.
The setup for measuring the capacitance of an air dielectric capacitor with a digital multimeter (DMM).

Construction

The two plates of the mold not yet combined. The walls of the mold are aliminum with brass spacers. A sample spacer is shown. Aluminum foil tape was used for holding it all together.
The aluminum plates for the mold for the paraffin wax dielectric capacitor.
The completed mold, view showing the hole for the wax.
The completed mold for the paraffin wax dielectric capacitor.
Heating the mold so that the wax will solidify more evenly.
Heating the mold in the oven so that the paraffin wax will solidify more evenly.
Pouring the wax.
Pouring the paraffin wax into the mold.
The setup for the pouring.
The setup for pouring the paraffin wax into the mold.
The finished result after the mold has been opened.
The finished paraffin wax piece after the mold has been opened.
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