Loss tangent

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-006776",
  "term": "Loss tangent",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The ratio of the loss modulus to the storage modulus, representing the energy dissipated as heat to the energy stored in the material during one cycle of sinusoidal deformation. This dimensionless quantity, also known as tan delta (tan δ), provides a measure of damping or internal friction in a viscoelastic material. A peak in the loss tangent versus temperature curve corresponds to a molecular relaxation, such as the glass transition.",
  "synonyms": [
    "loss factor"
  ],
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "forced sinusoidal oscillation",
    "loss modulus",
    "storage modulus"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2013, 85, 1017. 'Glossary of terms relating to thermal and thermomechanical properties of polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2013)' on page 1032 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-12-03-02)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/loss-tangent/"
}