Broad Band Microwave Dielectric Measurement of Liquids with an Open-Ended Coaxial Probe

The principles of the open-ended coaxial probe technique for the measurement of permittivity are described. Measurements of dielectric properties are carried out over a frequency range from 300MHz to 50GHz, with a system comprising an Agilent E8364B network analyzer and a connected 2.2mm diameter open-ended coaxial probe. Water, methanol and salines of 0.1M, 0.2M, 0.6M are used as calibration liquids or liquids to be measured. Measured permittivities are presented and compared with those calculated from the Cole-Cole equation. It is shown that, in order to get good results, the calibration liquid should be similar to the liquid being measured in dielectric properties.