Comparing graphical and statistical methods for analysing dielectric dispersions of polymers represented in the complex plane

Abstract

The expression proposed by Havriliak and Negami to represent the dielectric relaxation data of polymers is combined with multi-response statistical methods to provide objective parameter estimates and measures of precision. The graphical and multi-response methods are compared using the data for twelve polymers. The temperature dependence of the relaxation parameters for poly(vinyl acetate) is also treated with the multi-response techniques and compared with those previously reported. The statistical techniques lead to a much quicker, objective estimation of parameters, and permit sensitive analysis of residuals to reveal important sources of discrepancy.