Dielectric study of shellac composites through varying filler concentrations

Abstract

This work presents a comprehensive study on the dielectric properties of shellac-based composites with varying filler concentrations of (SiC) and iron (Fe) particles, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Shellac, a natural biopolymer known for its excellent film-forming abilities, biodegradability, and insulating properties, was chosen as the matrix material. The dielectric properties, including permittivity and dielectric loss, are measured by LCR Meter across a frequency range from 100 Hz to 8 MHz to evaluate the effects of filler concentration. This study reveals that the incorporation of SiC and Fe particles significantly enhances the dielectric constant and exhibits complex frequency-dependent behavior in dielectric loss. SEM analysis provided insights into the microstructural changes induced by the fillers, correlating with the observed dielectric properties. The results indicate that the dielectric performance of shellac composites can be effectively tailored through the precise control of SiC and Fe particle concentrations, attributed to interfacial polarization and Maxwell-Wagner-sillars effects. This work underscores the potential of shellac composites as sustainable, high performance dielectric materials for advanced electronic applications, contributing to the development of eco-friendly electronic devices.