General Properties

Conducting Materials. A conductor of electricity is any substance or material which will afford continuous passage to an electric current when subjected to a difference of electric potential. The greater the density of current for a given potential difference, the more efficient the conductor is said to be. Virtually all substances in solid or liquid state possess the property of electric conductivity in some degree, but certain substances are relatively efficient conductors, while others are almost totally devoid of this property. The metals, for example, are the best conductors, while many other substances, such as metal oxides and salts, minerals, and fibrous materials, are relatively poor conductors, but their conductivity is beneficially affected by the absorption of moisture. Some of the less efficient conducting materials, such as carbon and certain metal alloys, as well as the efficient conductors such as copper and aluminum, have very useful applications in the electrical arts.

Certain other substances possess so little conductivity that they are classed as nonconductors, a better term being insulators or dielectrics. In general, all materials which are used commercially for conducting electricity for any purpose are classed as conductors.

Definition of Conductor . A conductor is a body so constructed from conducting material that it may be used as a carrier of electric current. In ordinary engineering usage, a conductor is a material of relatively high conductivity.

Types of Conductors . In general, a conductor consists of...