Conducting Material

Conducting Material >Electrical conducting material are the basic requirement for electrical engineering products.

What you'll learn
Engineers
Higher secondary level
IES Asprirants
Electrical engineers

Requirements
Intermediate level

Description
Electrical conducting material are the basic requirement for electrical engineering products. The electrical conducting material can be classified as below-

Based on Resistivity or Conductivity

Low resistivity or high conductivity conducting material

High resistivity or Low conductivity conducting material

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

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

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

Who this course is for
Engineers, Higher secondary students