ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY S4 ELC 1

Chap 3. Conductors and Insulators

Introduction.



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3.1. Conductors,

Conductors. Substances through which a flow of current, i.e., a flow of free electrons can be set up
easily are called conductors.
The number of free electrons present in the substances decides its conductivity. Most of the metals
are good conductors. Substances through which a flow of current, i.e., a flow of free electrons can be
set up easily are called conductors.

The number of free electrons present in the substances decides its conductivity. Most of the metals
are good conductors.

I. Properties of Conductors

i) They should have a low specific resistance.
ii) They should be mechanically rigid.
iii) They should be easily available and should not be much costly.
iv) If the conductor is a metal then it should be ductile,
v) The resistance of most of the conductors (except carbon) increase with an increase in their
temperature.
vi) A conduction path for the flow of current can be prepared by connecting conducting wires or
strips.



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III. Use of Conductors in Wires
Silver is a very good conductor and it has a low specific resistance tool; even though it is not used as
a conductor, because it is a costly metal. The copper is next to silver in the order of conductivity. It
is used in the manufacture of wires. The gold is next to copper but it is also a very costly metal;
therefore, it is not used for electrical purposes.
Next metal is aluminium which is a cheap metal and that it is why now a days it is widely used in the
manufacture of wires etc. Steel has a high specific resistance; therefore, it is not used as a conductor
but it is used in metal-alloys to increase their mechanical strength.

The following conductors are used for electrical purposes:
1. Silver 6. Nichrome
2. Copper 7. Tungsten
3. Aluminium 8. Eureka
4. Lead 9. Acid solution
5. Tin 10. Carbon

A. Silver
i. It is a white coloured, soft, ductile and malleable metal.
ii. It is used in heavy duty contact-points and sensitive meters because of its high
conductivity.

B. Copper
i. It is obtained from copper oxide, sulphide or sulphate.
ii. It is red in colour,
iii. It becomes ductile and malleable on heating.
iv. It softens on cooling it quickly, but it becomes brittle on cooling it slowly after being
heated up.
v. It is least affected by atmosphere and air.
vi. It is used for making the bits of soldering irons, water heaters, pipes, sheets etc, due to its
high thermal conductivity.
vii. It is used for making wires and jajjles due to its high conductivity.





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C. Aluminium
i. It is white in colour and light in weight.
ii. It does not get rusted.
iii. It has a low mechanical strength but it is soft, ductile and malleable.
iv. Its specific resistance is higher than copper,
v. Its conductivity is lesser than copper.
vi. It is used for making wires, pipes, sheets, bus-bodies, radiochassis, small parts of light
weight etc. Its power is used in aluminum paints.

D. Tungsten
i. It is silvery white metal.
ii. It has a good tensile strength.
iii. It has a high melting point.
iv. It is used for making filaments of lamps and fluorescent tubes.

E. Acid solution
i. It is a solution of sulphuric acid and distilled water mixed in a ratio of l :3.
ii. It has a quick effect on metals.
iii. It causes burns on human skin.
iv. It is used in batteries.

F. Carbon
i. It is a black coloured material.
ii. It is brittle and easily convertible into powder.
iii. It has a high specific resistance,
iv. It is used for making brushes of D.C. machines and carbon resistors.

3. 2. Insulators

Insulators Substances, through which- a flow of current or liberation and diversion in any direction
of free electrons is not easy, are called insulators. The substances which cannot pass a current
through them under normal conditions. The resistance of an insulator is usually high. The resistance
of dry-air is high enough and that is why it is a good insulator.
Some insulators have 4 and some other have 8 electrons in their outermost shell. Substances having
8 electrons in their outermost Shell are very good insulators. In chemistry, such elements are called
inert elements and they do not combine with any other element.

I. Properties of Insulators.

A good insulator should have the following properties:

i. It should have a high specific resistance.
ii. It should have a high dielectric strength.
[The voltage bearing capacity of a dielectric is called its dielectric strength. It is measured in kilo
volts per millimetre. It is also known as Break down voltage.]

iii. It should have an ability to bear high temperatures.
iv. It should have a good mechanical strength.

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v. It should be moisture and water proof.
vi. It should have a permanent nature.

Following are the common insulators:
1. Dry air 9. Porcelain
2. Asbestos 10. Cotton
3. Bakelite 11. Rubber
4. Glass 12. Plastic
5. Mica 13. Varnish
6. Paper 14. Mineral oil
7. Wax 15. Dry wood
8. Slate 16. Ebonite






II. Classification of Insulators

Insulators may be classified into following three main classes
1. Solid Insulators these are usually hard and heavy in weight,
e.g., Bakelite, porcelain, slate, glass etc.
2. Soft Insulators These are usually flexible and light in weight,
e.g., paper, cotton, rubber, P.V.C, mica etc.

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3. Liquid Insulators These are usually fluids and therefore these are kept in containers,
e.g., oil, varnish etc.

III. Use of Insulators in Domestic Electrical Wiring

1. Dry wood For board, round block, batten, gatti etc.
2. V.I.R. For covering conducting wires.
3. Bakelite For switch, holder, socket, ceiling rose etc.
4. Porcelain For pipes, fuse cut-out, neutral link, round cleat etc.

IV. Classification of Cables according to the Insulator used

The cables may be classified as follows according to the type of insulators used for covering:

(1). V.I.R. Wire. Its full name is Vulcanised-India-Rubber wire. It has a V.I.R. covering and a cotton
covering over V.I.R. covering.
(2). P.V.C. Wire. Its full name is Poly-Vinyle-Chloride wire. It has a P.V.C. covering.
(3). Flexible Wire. It has a number of thin wires together covered with P.V.C. or V.I.R. insulation.
(4). Enamelled Wire. It has an enamel varnish coating over a copper wire.
(5). Cotton Covered Cover. It has a cotton covering over a copper wire.