Loss Tangent of Common Dielectric Materials
The loss tangent is a parameter that characterizes the lossiness or dissipative nature of dielectric materials. In the context of electromagnetic wave propagation and dielectric materials, the loss tangent is associated with the ability of a material to absorb and dissipate electromagnetic energy in the form of heat.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of loss tangent values for different dielectric materials at a frequency of 1 MHz.
| Alumina (90 wt% Al2O3) | Ceramic | 0.0004 |
| Alumina (96 wt% Al2O3) | Ceramic | 0.0001 |
| Alumina (99.5 wt% Al2O3) | Ceramic | 0.0002 |
| Alumina (99.9 wt% Al2O3) | Ceramic | 0.0003 |
| Alumina (99.99 wt% Al2O3) | Ceramic | 0.0004 |
| Alumina porcelain | Ceramic | 0.001 - 0.002 |
| Askarel (pyralene, pyranol) | Liquid | 0.01 |
| Bakelite (phenol formaldehyde resin) | Polymer | 0.0035 - 0.0045 |
| Beryllia (99.5 wt% BeO) | Ceramic | 0.0004 |
| Boron nitride (BN) | Ceramic | 0.0002 |
| Cellulose acetate | Thermoplastic | 0.1 |
| Cellulose triacetate | Thermoplastic | 0.1 |
| Corning® 0010 | Glass | 0.015 |
| Corning® 0080 | Glass | 0.058 |
| Corning® 0120 | Glass | 0.012 |
| Ebonite | Polymer | 0.0035 - 0.0045 |
| Fluoroelastomer | Elastomer | 0.037 |
| Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) | Mineral | 0.0003 |
| Hard rubber | Elastomer | 0.0007 - 0.0028 |
| Hexagonal boron nitride (96 wt% BN) | Ceramic | 0.0002 |
| Macor® | Glass | 0.003 |
| Mica, muscovite type (KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2) | Mineral | 0.0001 - 0.0004 |
| Mica, phlogopite type (KMg3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2) | Mineral | 0.004 - 0.070 |
| Mineral oil (transformers) | Liquid | 0.005 |
| Paper (kraft, dry) | Paper | 0.001 |
| Polyamide | Thermoplastic | 0.016 |
| Polyester | Thermoplastic | 0.016 |
| Polyethylene | Thermoplastic | 0.0003 |
| Polyimide | Thermoplastic | 0.010 |
| Polypropylene | Thermoplastic | 0.0003 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene | Thermoplastic | 0.0002 |
| Polytrifluorochloroethylene | Thermoplastic | 0.017 |
| Polyurethane | Thermoset | 0.060 |
| Polyvinyl chloride | Thermoplastic | 0.14 |
| Polyvinyl fluoride | Thermoplastic | 0.009 |
| Polyvinylidene chloride | Thermoplastic | 0.075 |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride | Thermoplastic | 0.159 |
| Pyrex® 1710 | Glass | 0.025 |
| Pyrex® 3320 | Glass | 0.019 |
| Pyrex® 7040 | Glass | 0.013 |
| Pyrex® 7050 | Glass | 0.017 |
| Pyroceram | Ceramic | 0.0015 |
| Silicon dioxide (SiO2) | Ceramic | 0.00002 |
| Silicon nitride (Si3N4) | Ceramic | 0.0006 - 0.0017 |
| Soda lime glass | Glass | 0.009 |
| Soapstone | Mineral | 0.01 |
| Steatite (talc) | Ceramic | 0.0008 - 0.0035 |
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018.