A fast and accurate amplitude-only transmission-reflection method for complex permittivity determination of lossy materials

Complex scattering parameter measurements using expensive vector network analyzers make microwave techniques inconvenient, for industrial-based applications. In industry, accurate and fast evaluation of materials' properties using a relatively inexpensive measurement setup is a key issue. In this paper, we derive an objective function for fast and accurate complex permittivity (e) determination of lossy materials using amplitude-only reflection and transmission scattering parameter measurements. The measurements can be carried out by relatively inexpensive microwave instruments such as a scalar network analyzer. The domain for computations of the e is significantly reduced to facilitate, rapid e determination. The objective function is verified by measurements of a commercially available antifreeze solution and binary mixture of ethyl alcohol and water solution.