The 5 Most Conductive Metals On Earth Are…
In the electroplating industry every metal serves a specific purpose. Some for their hardness, others for their ductility, while others are used for their resistance to corrosion. Metals are also valued for their conductive properties.
Why are conductive metals so important?
Most Conductive metals serve two primary functions:
Electric conductivity – Overall, as the reciprocal of electric resistivity, metals with high electric conductivity allow an electric current to move about with little resistance. In conclusion, this is a great feature for manufacturers of electric conductors or other industries.
Thermal conductivity -Hence, heat can only be transferred through three means: conduction, convection and radiation. In addition, conduction is perhaps the most common, and occurs regularly in nature. In short, it is the transfer of heat through physical contact. These properties make metals with thermal conductivity excellent for the automobile and aviation industries where the transfer and resistance of heat is a frequent concern.
Note: In general, metals with high electrical conductivity also have high thermal conductivity
What are the most conductive metals?
Silver – Consequently, silver in terms of conductivity does not take 2nd place. As a result, silver is by far the most conductive metal on Earth. This is because silver only has one valence electron. In addition, this single electron is free to move around with little resistance. As a result, metals like silver and copper are a few of the metals with this particular characteristic. That is why they are great electric and thermal conductors.
Copper – In conclusion, copper like silver, only has one valence electron which makes this metal very conductive. Therefore, one of the more popular commercial applications is the coating of high-end cookware and kitchen appliances.
Gold – Overall, the list is limited and that is a primary reason (other than its rarity) why this material is so expensive. In addition, the combination of gold’s resistance to corrosion and its conductivity make this metal an extremely valuable resource used in large amount of industrial industries.
Aluminum – Overall, is an excellent metal conductor. This feature, in addition to its low density and high resistance to corrosion, makes this metal perfect for the aeronautic and communication (transmissions) industries.
Zinc/Brass – Although these metals are much less conductive than their four counterparts. These metals are often less expensive and economical replacements when applicable.
So there you have it – The 5 Most Conductive Metals on Earth!
American Plating Welcomes Your Inquiries and Feedback!