BROAD-BAND DETERMINATION OF ULTRASONIC-ATTENUATION AND PHASE-VELOCITYIN INSULATING MATERIALS

Ultrasonic attenuation and phase velocity in a solid insulating materi al are determined in a broad frequency band by studying the propagatio n of a pressure pulse in a sample of this material submitted to an ele ctric field of known value. During the propagation of the pulse in the sample, which is placed between short-circuited electrodes, a current is generated in the external circuit. This signal gives directly the time dependence of the pressure pulses entering and exiting the sample , from which the frequency-dependent attenuation and phase velocity ar e deduced by Fourier analysis. The pressure pulse is generated by the impact of a laser pulse on an absorbing surface adjacent to one face o f the sample. New results obtained in polyethylene and silicone sample s are presented. The proposed method presents the following advantages : It avoids the use of a transducer, reduces the impedance matching re quirements, and provides information in a broad frequency band by a si ngle measurement.