Association of pure polar liquids: dielectric properties of docosanoic acid

Abstract

The dielectric properties of liquid docosanoic acid as a function of temperature have been studied in order to establish a possible link between these properties and the association of monocarboxylic fatty acids. Measurements of the static dielectric permittivity are reported at different temperatures from ca. 10 K above the mp to 388 K. The molecular correlation factor has been evaluated according to the Kirkwood–Frohlich theory and has also been corrected on the basis of the Abbott–Bolton model, to take into account the non-spherical molecular shape. The static permittivity is almost constant over the considered temperature range, but the correlation factor tends towards unity because of thermal agitation as the temperature increases.