Beatrice Lang
Materials that do not allow the flow of electricity are known as insulators. Insulators are poor conductors of electricity and protect us from the harmful effects of electricity passing through conductors. Materials such as glass, plastic, rubber, air, cloth, polythene, and wood are all insulators. Metals, on the other hand, are generally good conductors of electricity, with copper, aluminium, gold, and silver being excellent electrical conductors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Poor Conductors | Plastic, rubber, cloth, polythene, and wood |
| Insulators | Glass, plastic, rubber, air, and wood |
| Nonconductors | Wood, paper, and most plastics |
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Plastic
The number of electrons in an atom's outer shell determines its conductivity. Metal is a fantastic conductor due to its high number of free electrons. However, plastics have molecules that are formed of lengthy chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms, which means they have little to no free electrons. Therefore, conduction of electricity is not possible in plastics.
While plastics are generally poor conductors, it is important to note that even materials that are not typically considered good conductors can become conductive when the voltage is high enough. However, in the face of a large current, plastic will simply melt.
Overall, plastics are considered insulators rather than conductors of electricity due to their molecular structure and lack of free electrons.
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Glass
However, it is important to note that glass can conduct electricity under certain conditions. At room temperature, glass acts as a good insulator, similar to hard rubber. However, when heated to temperatures of 1000 K, glass becomes molten, and its resistivity decreases significantly, allowing it to conduct electricity. This phenomenon can be observed by heating glass with a blowtorch and connecting it to a power source, which will cause incandescent lightbulbs to light up.
The ability of glass to conduct electricity when heated is due to the behaviour of its atoms and electrons at high temperatures. When glass is heated, its atomic bonds weaken, and the solid melts into a liquid state. In this molten state, the ions become mobile and can drift further between collisions under the influence of an applied electric field, facilitating the flow of electricity.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the mechanism of conduction in glass differs from that of traditional conductors like copper. In copper, atoms form a lattice structure with covalent bonds, resulting in a large quantum system with many free electrons that can move easily between atoms. In contrast, glass, as an insulator, has most of its electrons tightly bound in low-energy states close to the atoms. To initiate conduction in glass, a strong enough voltage must be applied to break these chemical bonds, resulting in the formation of ionized molecules that can then conduct electricity.
While glass is not the only poor conductor of electricity, its unique properties and ability to transition from an insulator to a conductor under specific conditions make it a notable example in the discussion of electrical conductivity.
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Rubber
While rubber is generally a poor conductor, there are certain types of rubber that can be conductive. For example, conductive rubber is a generic term for any rubberized material with conductive properties that reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference. These materials are often used in electronics to provide shielding from interference. Additionally, rubber can become a conductor if it gets wet or if it contains additives such as carbon or metallic materials.
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Cloth
The conductivity of a material is its ability to transmit current or the movement of charged particles, most often protons. Materials that carry the flow of electrical current are called conductors, and those that do not are called nonconductors or insulators. Metals, such as silver and aluminium, are some of the best conductors of electricity, while materials like glass, plastic, rubber, air, and wood are used as insulators.
Conductive textiles, also known as lamé, are made with guipé thread or yarn that is conductive because it is composed of metallic fibres wrapped around a non-metallic core or has a metallic coating. Alternatively, metallic strands can be woven into the textile, or the fabric can be impregnated with carbon- or metal-based powders. Conductive fibres consist of a non-conductive or less conductive substrate, which is then either coated or embedded with electrically conductive elements, often carbon, nickel, copper, gold, silver, titanium, or PEDOT.
Conductive fabrics have a wide range of applications, including wearable technology, smart clothing, fitness trackers, health monitoring devices, and electromagnetic shielding. They can also be used in touchscreens, allowing the screen to conduct electrical signals from touch, enabling interaction. Additionally, conductive fabrics are useful in environments where static electricity needs to be controlled, such as laboratories and manufacturing facilities dealing with sensitive electronic components.
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Wood
However, wood contains organic compounds called extractives that give it some conductivity. The presence of these extractives and the moisture content in the wood enable a small amount of electricity to flow through it. Dry wood can conduct electricity to a limited extent, but when it becomes wet, ionized water molecules can split into positively and negatively charged hydrogen ions, improving its conductivity.
In construction and electrical applications, wood is commonly used for insulation. Its insulating properties protect individuals from electrical shock and are utilized in the production of insulating boards, cables, and circuit boards. While wood can conduct electricity under certain conditions, its conductivity remains relatively low compared to good conductors like metals.
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Frequently asked questions
A good electrical conductor is a substance that allows electricity to flow through it easily. Metals are generally good conductors of electricity.
A poor conductor of electricity is called an insulator. Insulators do not allow electrical current to flow through them easily and protect us from the harmful effects of electricity.
Some examples of good electrical conductors include copper, silver, aluminium, and gold.
Some examples of poor electrical conductors include plastic, rubber, cloth, polythene, wood, and glass.
While it is difficult to definitively state one material as the worst conductor of electricity, plastics are considered very poor conductors and are commonly used as insulators to protect us from electrical shocks.
