Broadened dielectric loss spectra and reduced dispersion strength of viscous glycerol in a connective tissue protein

Dielectric spectroscopy is used to study collagen-glycerol systems at different concentration levels for temperatures above the glass transition of the solvent. The mean dielectric relaxation times of the mixed systems exhibit essentially the same temperature dependence as that of pure glycerol. The presence of collagen does, however, broaden the distribution of relaxation times significantly. The static dielectric constant of the solvated samples is considerably smaller than that of neat glycerol. This is explained semi-quantitatively by a simple approach. Phenomenological analyses indicate a weak, but not completely unambiguous decoupling of conductivity from structural relaxation times.