Rochelle Salt as a Dielectric

Abstract

Both saturation and hysteresis appear in Braun tube oscillograms made at various temperatures with a condenser whose dielectric consists of Rochelle salt slabs cut perpendicular to the a-axis. The dielectric constant for such slabs may reach a value of 18,000. Curves are also given, showing the variation in mechanical and electrical saturation with temperature. These correspond in only a general way to the piezoelectric constant's variation with temperature. Certain marked peculiarities are noted in the resulting mechanical deformation when Rochelle salt is excited with alternating potentials. Clear Rochelle salt half-crystals have been produced up to forty-five centimeters in length.