Metallurgical & Material Engineering UET,LHR 1

Electrical properties of materials and its applications

Materials:
Material is a broad term for a chemical substance or mixture of substances that constitute a thing.
Material can be classified according to many different criteria including their physical and
chemical properties as well as their intended applications whether it is thermal, optical, electrical,
magnetic, or combined.

1.0. Electrical properties of materials:

One of the principal characteristics of materials is their ability (or lack of ability) to conduct
electrical current. Indeed, materials are classified by this property, that is, they are divided into
conductors, semiconductors, and nonconductors. The Electrical properties of a material are those
which determine ability of material to be suitable for a particular electrical properties application.
Some of the typical Electrical properties of engineering materials are listed below:

 Resistivity
 Conductivity
 Thermoelectricity

1.1. Resistivity:
It the property of material which resists the flow of electric current through material. It is the
reciprocal of conductivity. It is dented by ‘ρ’.

Resistivity of a material of a conductor can be determine as below

ρ = R A/l

Where, ‘R’ is the resistance of conductor in Ω.

‘A’ is the cross sectional area of conductor in m2

‘l’ is the length of the conductor in meter SI unit of resistivity of is Ω¦-meter.

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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

1.2. Conductivity:
It is the property of material with allows the flow of electric current through material. It is a
parameter which indicates that how easily electric current can flow through the material. It is
denoted by ‘σ’. Conductivity of material is the reciprocal of resistivity.

Conductivity of material can be determined by

σ =1/ ρ = l/R.A
Its SI unit is 1/(Ω-meter) or ℧/meter.

1.3. Thermoelectricity:
If the junction, formed by joining to two metals, is heated, a small voltage in the range of milli
volt is produced. This effect is called thermoelectricity or thermoelectric effect. This effect forms
the basis of operation of thermocouples and some temperature based transducers. This effect can
be used to generate electricity, to measure the temperature and to measure the change is
temperature of objects.
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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

2.0. Classification of material and their Electrical properties:

2.1. Metals:
A metal is a material that when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous
appearance, and conducts electricity heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable and
ductile and show conductivity.

Electrical properties:

Electrical conductivity in metals is a result of the movement of electrically charged particles.

The atoms of metal elements are characterized by the presence of valence electrons. Electrons in
the outer shell of an atom that is free to move about. It is these ‘free electrons’ that allow metals
to conduct an electric current. Because valence electrons are free to move they can travel through
the lattice that forms the physical structure of a metal

2.2. Non-metals:
Non-metal is a chemical element that mostly lacks metallic attributes. Physically, non-metals
tend to have reactively low melting and boiling points, and densities, are mostly brittle solid, and
are usually poor conductor of heat and electricity.

Electrical properties:

Metal atoms have outer electrons which are not tied to any one atom. These electrons can move
freely within the structure of a metal when an electric current is applied. There are no such free
electrons in covalent or ionic solids, so electrons can’t flow through them so they are non-
conductors.

2.3. Ceramics:
A ceramic is a non-metallic solid material comprising an inorganic compound of metal, non-
metals or metalloid atoms primarily held in ionic and covalent bonds.

Electrical properties:

Most of ceramic materials are dielectric (materials, having very low electrical conductivity, but
supporting electrostatic field)

Electrical conductivity of ceramics varies with the frequency of field applied and also with
temperature.
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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

2.4. Polymers:
A chemical reaction bonding monomers together to a make a polymer is called polymerization.

Electrical properties:
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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

3.0. Application of materials:

3.1. Metals:
Metals and their alloys with other metals find extensive use in our daily life. Iron, copper,
aluminum, silver, gold etc., are extensively used.

 Iron or steel is used for the construction of bridges, houses, automobile parts, etc.
stainless steel alloy of iron is used for utensils, spoons, plates, etc. iron mixed with
concrete, is known as reinforced concrete. It is very strong and is used in the construction
of bridges and houses.
 Aluminum is a light metal and a good conductor of electricity. Aluminum wires are used
as overhead wires instead of copper. Aluminum alloys are light and strong hence used to
constructs aero planes parts. Aluminum foils are used in houses. Copper metal is used as
electrodes and wires are used in heaters.
 Sodium, titanium and zirconium metals are used in atomic energies and space science
projects.
 Zinc is used for galvanizing iron to protect it from rusting.

3.2. Non-metals:

 Chlorine is used in bleaching powder and liquid bleach, which are used for cleaning
purposes. Chlorine is a very efficient disinfectant, hence added in public water to kill
disease causing pathogens.
 Noble gases such as neon, argon, and krypton are used in different types of lights.
 Diamond is used in industries for cutting of glass etc.
 Coal another form of carbon, is used as fuel.
 Nitrogen is used in manufacturing of ammonia.
 Oxygen cylinders are used for breathing in emergency cases
 Used to cover cable wiring since they cannot transfer electricity.
 Used to make handles for pots and pans since they cannot conduct heat. No heat will
be transferred to the handle when cooking.
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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

3.3. Ceramics:
Ceramic products are hard, porous, and brittle. As a result, they are used to make pottery, bricks,
tiles, cements, and glass. Ceramics are also used at many places in gas turbine engines. Bio
ceramics are used as dental implants and synthetic bones. Given below are other important uses
of ceramics:

 Used in white wares which find application in sparks plugs, electrical insulators,
laboratory equipments, crucibles, dishes, and high class potteries.
 Clay is the starting raw material for manufacturing bricks, tiles, pottery, earthenware’s,
sewer, drain pipes, and cover for electrical cables.
 Stoneware’s are used for constructing sanitary fixtures, such as sinks and bath tubs.
Stoneware’s are also used in the construction of piping vessels, drainage pipes,
underground cable sheathings, sewerage pipes, home pipes, absorption towers, valves,
and pumps in the chemical industry.
 Glass is used to make household glassware, decorative items, and optical lenses. Glasses
are used for heat insulation purposes, for example in ovens. Glass is used as an insulator
in metal pipelines, in vacuum cleaners, and on the walls and roofs of houses. Glass is
resistant to chemicals. As a result, it is used to filter corrosive liquids such as acids and
acid solutions. It is also used for sound insulation. Safety glass is used in aircraft,
automobiles, helicopter, and submarines.

3.4. Polymers:
Polymers are highly diverse class of materials which are available in all fields of engineering
from avionics through drug delivery system, bio-sensor devices, holography, 3D printing, tissue
engineering, cosmetics etc. and the improvement and usage of these depends on polymer
applications which are as follows:

 In aircraft, aerospace and sports equipments.

 Polymers in biochemistry.
 In marine sciences.
 Organic polymer flocculants in water purification
 Polymer in holography.
 3D printing plastics.
 Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
 Food packaging and processing industry.
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Electrical properties of materials and its applications

3.5. Composites:
In most engineering applications, composite materials are used in the form of laminates which
consists of piles arranged at a variety angles. These individual layers can be constructed from
unidirectional continuous fibers, discontinuous fibers, or woven cloth.

 Carbon fiber composites which are used for automobile structure parts, in sport items, for
airplane parts etc.
 Fiberglass i.e. fiber reinforced polymer used in storage tanks, bathtub, piping systems,
sports masks and helmets, laminate floors etc.
 Composite materials are used in making bulletproof glass also have some army
applications like spectra shield, bullet proof vests.
 Aerospace applications like satellites, Kevlar etc.
 Fiber reinforced concrete in façade cladding panels, ornamental concrete, constructional
application.

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