PORTABLE SYSTEM FOR RAPID CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF A MATERIAL

A material properties detection system (100). The system can include an antenna (120) that is tuned for operation within a frequency band over which the antenna transmits. The system also can include a transmitter (210) that generates electromagnetic energy across the frequency band and forwards the electromagnetic energy to the antenna. An impedance measurement circuit (215) can be provided. The impedance measurement circuit can measure an input impedance of the antenna over the frequency band and generate measured impedance data (225). The system can include a material characterization application (230) that processes the measured impedance data to generate a material characterization for a structure (110) to which the antenna is proximate. The material characterization can include a dielectric constant, a permittivity, a loss tangent and/or a permeability.