Precision dielectric measurements of nonpolar polymers in the millimeter wavelength range

Complex refractive index and complex dielectric permittivity and loss tangent data for polyethylene, polypropylene, poly-4 methylpentene-1 (TPX), and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) are presented over the frequency range 60-300 GHz. All of these nonpolar polymers are extremely low-loss materials. As in the microwave region, polyethylene demonstrates exceptionally low-loss characteristics in the entire millimeter-wave region. Polar polymers such as nylon and plexiglass exhibit much higher absorption (nearly an order of magnitude higher) loss compared to nonpolar polymers.