Conducting Materials

Electrical conducting material are the basic requirement for electrical engineering products. The
electrical conducting material can be classified as belowBased on Resistivity or Conductivity
Low resistivity or high conductivity conducting material
High resistivity or Low conductivity conducting material
A classification chart of conducting materials based on resistivity or conductivity is shown in figure
below-

Low Resistivity or High Conductivity Conducting Material

Material having low resistivity or high conductivity are very useful in electrical engineering
products. These material used as conductors for all kind of windings required in electrical machines,
apparatus and devices. These material are also used as conductor in transmission and distribution of
electrical energy.
Some of low resistivity or high conductivity materials and their resistivity are given in table below

Silver
Copper
Gold
Aluminum

Low Resistivity or High Conductivity of Conducting Material

Material having low resistivity or high conductivity are very useful in electrical engineering for
manufacturing electrical engineering machines or equipments. These material used as conductors
for all kind of winding required in electrical machines, apparatus and devices. These material are
also used as conductor in transmission and distribution of electrical energy.

Required Properties in high Low Resistivity or High Conductivity

Conducting Material
This following properties are required in high conductivity materials:
The above required properties varies with the purpose for which material is being used. Any
impurity whether metallic or non metallic increase the resistivity of metals. Even an
impurity of low resistivity will increase the resistivity of metal. The reason behind this is
that the addition of slight impurity creates imperfections in the crystal lattice which disturb
the flow of electrons through metals. Some of low resistivity or high conductivity
materials and their resistivity with temperature coefficient of resistance are given in table
below

Highest possible conductivity (ideally zero).

Least possible temperature coefficient of resistance (ideally zero).
High melting point.
High mechanical strength.
High ductility, so that can be drawn in the form of wire easily.

High corrosion resistance (free from oxidation).

Solder ability, so that can be soldered easily to join the conductors.
Low cost.
Long life or durable.
High flexibility.

Silver (Ag) Silver is the best conductor of electricity. It is having highest conductivity. It is
moldable and weld able. The main drawback of it that it is very costly, which limits its practical
use in electrical machines / equipment. However, it is still used in precious equipment used for
research where cost of equipment does not matter. Properties
1. Resistivity : 1.58 -cm
2. Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.0038/oC
3. Melting point: 962oC
4. Specific gravity: 10.49 gm /cm3
Copper (Cu) The extensively used, high conductivity material as conductor for electrical machines
or equipment, is copper. Malleability, weld ability and solder ability are most important properties
of copper. Copper in pure form is having good conductivity. But the conductivity of standard grade
copper is reduced due presence of impurities. Properties
1.
2.
3.
4.

Resistivity : 1.68 -cm

Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.00386 /oC
Melting point: 1085oC
Specific gravity: 8.96gm /cm3

Gold (Au) Gold is a precious and costly metal. It is having good conductivity. Gold is having
highest malleability and ductility among all metals. Due to high cost, its practical use is limited to
precious instruments used for research. Properties
1.
2.
3.
4.

Resistivity : 2.21 -cm

Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.0034 /oC
Melting point: 1064oC
Specific gravity: 19.30gm /cm3

Aluminum (Al) Aluminum is an element which is a silver-white, light weight, soft, non-magnetic
and ductile metal. Aluminum is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon) and
most abundant metal found in earths crust. The main ore of aluminum is bauxite. Aluminum is
having low density, high ductility, good corrosion resistance and good conductivity, which makes it
suitable to use as electric conductor for transmission and distribution of electricity. Properties
1.
2.
3.
4.

Resistivity : 2.65 -cm

Temperature coefficient of resistance at 20oC: 0.00429 /oC
Melting point: 660oC
Specific gravity: 2.70 gm /cm3

High Resistivity or Low Conductivity Conducting Material

Materials having High resistivity or Low conductivity conducting are very useful for electrical
engineering products. These material are used to manufacture the filaments for incandescent lamp,
heating elements for electric heaters, space heaters and electric irons etc. Some of materials having
High resistivity or Low conductivity are listed below:

Tungsten
Carbon
Nichrome or Brightray - B
Nichrome - Vor Brightray - C
Manganin

High Resistivity or Low Conductivity Conducting Material

Materials having high resistivity or low conductivity are very useful for some electrical engineering
products and applications. These material are used to manufacture the filaments for incandescent
lamp, heating elements for electric heaters and furnaces, space heaters and electric irons etc.
Required Properties in High Resistivity or Low Conductivity Conducting Material
The following properties are required in high resistivity or low conductivity conducting
material

High resistivity.
High melting point.
High mechanical strength.
High ductility, so that can be drawn in the form of wire easily.
High corrosion resistance mean free from oxidation.
Low cost.
Long life or durable.
High flexibility.

Some of Materials having High Resistivity or Low Conductivity are listed below
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Tungsten
Carbon
Nichrome or Brightray B
NichromeV or Brightray C
Manganin

Tungsten
Tungsten is produced by very complicated processes from rare ores or from tungstic acids. Some
facts about tungsten are listed below

Very hard.
Resistivity is twice to aluminum.
High tensile strength.
Can be drawn in the form of very thin wire.
Oxidize very quickly in the presence of oxygen.
Can be used up to 2000oC in the atmosphere of inert gases (Nitrogen, Argon etc.) without
oxidation.

Properties of Tungsten
Properties of tungsten are listed below Specific weight : 20 gm/cm3
Resistivity : 5.28 -cm
Temperature coefficient of resistance: 0.005 / oC

 Melting point : 3410oC

Boiling point : 5900oC
Thermal coefficient of expansion: 4.44 10-9 / oC
Uses of Tungsten
1. Used as filament for incandescent lamp.
2. As electrode in X- ray tubes.
3. The great hardness, high melting and boiling points make it suitable for use as electrical
contact material in certain applications. It is having high resistance for destructive forces
produces during operation of electrical contacts.

Carbon
Carbon in widely used in electrical engineering. Electrical carbon materials are manufactured from
graphite and other forms of carbon.
Properties of Carbon

Resistivity : 1000 - 7000 - cm

Temperature coefficient of resistance : - 0.0002 to - 0.0008 /oC
Melting point : 3500oC
Specific gravity : 2.1gm /cm3

Uses of Carbon
Carbon is having following applications in electrical Engineering
1. Used for making pressure sensitive resistors which are used in automatic voltage regulators.
2. Used for manufacturing the carbon brushes, which are used in DC machines. These carbon
brushes improve the commutation as well as reduce the wear and tear.
3. For making filament of incandescent lamp.
4. For making electrical contacts.
5. For making resistors.
6. For making battery cell elements.
7. Carbon electrodes for electric furnaces.
8. Arc lighting and welding electrodes.
9. Component for vacuum valves and tubes.
10.For makings parts for telecommunication equipment.

Nichrome or Brightray B
Composition of Nichrome or Brightray B

Properties of Nichrome or Brightray B

Resistivity : 1.10 -cm

Temperature coefficient of resistance : 0.0002 /oC
Melting point : 1350oC
Specific gravity : 8.24 gm /cm3

 High resistance to oxidation

Uses of Nichrome or Brightray B
Used in making tubular heaters and electric irons.

Nichrome V or Brightray C
Composition of Nichrome V or Brightray C

Properties of Nichrome V or Brightray C

Resistivity : 40 - cm
Temperature coefficient of resistance : 0.0001 /oC
Melting point : 1400oC
Specific gravity : 8.4gm /cm3
High resistance to oxidation

Uses of Nichrome V or Brightray C

Used in making heating elements for electric heaters and furnaces.

Manganin
Composition of Manganin

Properties of Manganin

Resistivity: 40 -cm
Temperature coefficient of resistance : 0.0001 /oC
Melting point : 1400oC
Specific gravity : 8.4gm /cm3
High resistance to oxidation

Uses of Manganin
Manganin is having following applications in electrical Engineering.
1. Used in making electric heating elements and in electric furnaces.
2. As the manganin is having very low temperature coefficient of resistance, therefore it is used
to make the standard resistances and in measuring instruments.

Based on Area of Application

Materials used as conductor for coils of electrical machines

Materials for heating elements
Materials for lamp filaments
Material used for transmission line
Bimetals
Electrical Contact Materials
Electrical Carbon Materials
Material for Brushes used in Electrical Machines
Materials used for fuses

Materials Used as Conductor for Coils of Electrical Machines

Materials having low resistivity or high conductivity such as copper, silver and aluminum can be
used for making coils for electrical machines. However, looking to optimum conductivity,
mechanical strength and cost, copper is much suitable for making coils for electrical machines.

Materials for Heating Elements

Materials having high resistivity or low conductivity such as Nichrome, Kanthal, Cupronickel and
Platinum etc. are used for making heating elements. Materials used for heating elements must
possess following properties

High melting point

Free from oxidation in operating atmosphere
High tensile strength
Sufficient ductility to draw the metal or alloy in the form of wire

Materials for Lamp Filaments

Materials having high resistivity or low conductivity such as Carbon, Tantalum and Tungsten etc.
are used for making incandescent lamp filament. Materials used for making incandescent lamp
filament must possess following properties

High melting point

Low vapour pressure
Free from oxidation in inert gas (argon, nitrogen etc.) medium at operating temperature
High resistivity
Low thermal coefficient of expansion
Low temperature coefficient of resistance
Should have high young modulus and tensile strength
Sufficient ductility so that can be drawn in the form of very thin wire
Ability to be converted in the shape of filament
High fatigue resistance against thermally induced fluctuating stresses
Cost should minimum

Material Used for Transmission Line

Materials used for making conductor for transmission line must possess following properties
High conductivity

High tensile strength

Light weight
High resistance to corrosion
High thermal stability
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
Low cost

Materials use for transmission lines are listed below

Copper
Aluminum
Cadmium - Copper alloys
Phosphor bronze
Galvanized steel
Steel core copper
Steel core aluminum

Bimetals
Many combinations of metals with different Coefficient of linear thermal expansion can be used
to form the bimetals. Some of the commonly used combinations for making bimetallic strips are
listed below Iron, nickel, constantan (high Coefficient of linear thermal expansion)
Alloy of iron and nickel (low Coefficient of linear thermal expansion)

Electrical Contact Materials

The successful operation of electrical contacts is function of various factors. While selecting a
suitable material for electrical contact, we have to consider the factors. Some of most important
factors of these are listed below
Contact resistance
Contact force
Voltage and current

Electrical Carbon Materials

Carbon in widely used in electrical engineering. Electrical carbon materials are manufactured from
graphite and other forms of carbon. Carbon is having following applications in electrical
Engineering

For making filament of incandescent lamp

For making electrical contacts
For making resistors
For making brushes for electrical machines such as DC machines, alternators.
For making battery cell elements
Carbon electrodes for electric furnaces
Arc lighting and welding electrodes
Component for vacuum valves and tubes
For makings parts for telecommunication equipments

Material for Brushes Used in Electrical Machines

Before selecting the material for brushes, we should keep in our mind following requirements in a
brush

Contact resistance
Thermal stability
Lubrication properties
Mechanical strength
Low brittleness

Material used for Brushes in electrical machines are listed below

Carbon
Natural graphite
Electro graphite
Metal graphite
Copper

Materials Used for Fuse Elements

Fuse element is primary requirement of a fuse unit. The fuse element should have following
properties- Low resistance - to avoid the undesirable voltage drop across the fuse element, so that it
should effects the normal functioning or performance of circuit or device or equipment Low melting
point -the fuse element must have low melting point. So that it blow out due to heating by excess
current during over load or short circuit. Different types of metals and alloys are used for fuse
element. Some of these elements are listed below

Aluminum
Lead and tin
Copper
Silver
Rose Alloys
Wood alloys