Geartech BR works with several types of electrical insulators. But to know the importance and why electrical insulators are fundamental especially for you who work with electric motors, it is interesting to understand the difference between electrical conductors and insulators. In this article we will show you and talk a little about 5 electrically conductive materials. Continue reading to find out more!
In a very simple and straightforward way, electrical conductors are materials that conduct electricity and electrical insulators are materials that do not. Your own names are already pretty intuitive, aren’t they?
Now, speaking more technically, whether a substance conducts electricity is determined by how easily electrons move through it, electrical conductivity depends on the electron’s motion, as protons and neutrons do not move. They are linked to other protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei.
The best electrical conductor, under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, is the metallic element silver.
Silver is not always an ideal choice as a material, however, because it is expensive and susceptible to tarnish, and the oxide layer known as tarnish is not conductive.
Likewise, rust, verdigris and other oxide layers reduce conductivity in even the strongest conductors.
Some factors that influence electrically conductive materials
The shape and size of a material affect its conductivity. For example, a thick piece of matter will conduct better than a thin piece of the same size and length.
If you have two pieces of material of the same thickness, but one is shorter than the other, the shorter one will conduct better because the shorter piece has less resistance, in the same way that it is easier to force water through a pipe. short than a long one.
Another thing that affects conductivity is temperature. As the temperature increases, atoms and their electrons gain energy. Some electrical insulators like glass are bad conductors when cold, but good conductors when hot.
Most metals are better conductors when cold and less efficient when hot. Some good conductors become superconductors at extremely low temperatures.
Sometimes conduction itself changes the temperature of a material. Electrons flow through conductors without damaging atoms or causing wear.
Moving electrons experience resistance, however. Because of this, the flow of electric currents can heat conductive materials.
Discover now the 5 materials that conduct electricity
Okay, after we’ve talked about electrical conductors in more detail, let’s show you the 5 electrically conductive materials.
See the following list keeping in mind that we will number them from most effective to least effective. That is, number 1 is a more effective electrical conductor than number 2 and so on.
- Silver
- Gold
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Mercury
We only listed these 5 electrically conductive materials, but of course there are more, such as water itself.
Now talking about insulators, as we talked about at the beginning of this article, Geartech BR is a reference in the commercialization of electrical insulators.
To learn more about our products and services, contact us! It will be a pleasure to speak with you!
