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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Conductivity & density of conductive metals

Sir,

I wish to know the conductivity & density of electrolytic grade Copper & Silver.

Mahesh Khandelwal
- Vrindaban, U.P., India
2000

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Some questions, like how to get started on something or personal experiences in dealing with an unusual problem, are very well suited to this public forum, Mahesh. Questions about the quantitative properties of materials are poorly suited because you have to look them up for confirmation in the end anyway.

So let's assume your question is of the first type, and answer it by saying "try ASM's Metals Handbook". Good luck and thanks for visiting.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2000

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Dear author,

My friend and I are both engineering students and we are having a slight disagreement, I was hoping that you can solve it..... what has the highest conductivity in the electrical standpoint...i.e., the greatest number of free floating of electrons.... laboratory copper, gold, silver, or aluminum.... Thanks for your help...

Simon Raymond
- Radcliff, Kentucky, USA
2002

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Silver. But copper is so very close and is so much less expensive that it's the universal choice for conductors.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

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I would like to state a correction of a previous answer. Aluminum actually has the lowest density resistivity -being the best conductor over Copper and Silver! 67.50-Alum., 141.57-Copper,154.31-Silver,388.53-Gold.#'s are g/cm^3 nano-ohm-meters. That is why power companies use aluminum for high voltage power cables that are strung from tower to tower. It is light and a very good conductor and inexpensive too.

Brian P. Scott
- Sacramento, California
2004

I have to take exception to the last answer. Aluminum has the lowest density resistivity but that does not make it the best conductor over Copper and Silver! Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current. Conductivity is defined as a ratio of the current density to an electric field strength. Silver has the highest "electrical conductivity" of any metal! Followed by copper then aluminum.

Ted Cambron
- Brecksville, Ohio USA
2007

I have to agree with the previous post, and the reason power companies use it for their highlines is because not only is copper too expensive, but much heavier.

Zach Grant
- Vale, SD, US
April 25, 2009