ABSTRACT
Before speculating on the likely future of the technique, it is helpful to consider the type of information that dielectric analysis may yield in very general terms. Dielectric analysis is a technique involving the physical, rather than chemical, characterisation of samples. There are exceptions to this statement, but in general one does not use dielectric studies in order to identify the chemical nature of an unknown sample. Instead, the technique may yield information on the arrangement of components within that material. The examples given in the text have indicated that the technique may yield information on both the physical structure of a sample on a macroscopic level, but may also yield information on a molecular basis. For example, the response of solids exposed to varying levels of hydration may be monitored in order to gain a general impression of water uptake. At the same time, it is possible to monitor the behaviour of individual side groups on a protein molecule, hence information on a molecular basis may be obtained. This seeming contrast in sensitivities indicates that the type of information gained depends greatly on the nature of the sample under investigation. On the basis of the studies outlined in this text, it is possible to state that for systems containing one or possibly two components (e.g. pure polymers, simple solutions), information may be obtained on a molecular basis. This is not to say that the specific atoms which constitute the sample may be identified, but that the arrangements and mobilities of specific molecular moieties may be usefully studied. This also highlights a further facet of the technique when applied to simple systems, namely that dielectric analysis is of greatest use when the chemical structure of the sample is already largely known.
