NIST Calibration Service for Capacitance Standards at Low Frequencies

Abstract

This document describes the capacitance calibration service provided by NIST, including measurement procedures and systems used to calibrate capacitance standards of nominal values in the range of 0.001 pF to 1 F, at frequencies up to 10 kHz. Discussed are the process to transfer the unit of capacitance from the NIST capacitance from the NIST capacitance primary laboratory, which maintains the U.S. representation of farad, the calculable capacitor, and the quality controls of reference standards and check standards in the calibration laboratory. Also included are summaries of calibration uncertainties of capacitors of various dielectric materials, such as fused-silica, nitrogen, air, and mica.