ELECTRICAL

PROPERTIES
 WHYSTUDYtheElectricalPropertiesofMaterials?

Consideration of the electrical properties of materials is often

important when materials selection and processing decisions
are being made during the design of a component or
structure. For example, when we consider an integrated circuit
package, the electrical behaviors of the various materials are
diverse. Some need to be highly electrically conductive (e.g.,
connecting wires), whereas electrical insulativity is required of
others (e.g., protective package encapsulation).
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A. Ohms Law
Ohms law relates the current Ior time rate of
charge passageto the applied voltage V as follows:
The potential difference (voltage) across an ideal
conductor is proportional to the current through it.

Where: R = resistance of the material through

which the current is passing, ohms
V= applied voltage, volts
I= current, ampres
Figure1Schematicrepresentationoftheapparatususedtomeasureelectricalresistivity
 ElectricalConduction

Electrical resistivity
- (also known as resistivity, specific electrical resistance,
or volume resistivity) quantifies how strongly a given
material opposes the flow of electric current.

- A low resistivity indicates a material that readily allows

the movement of electric charge. Low resistance metals,
e.g. copper, require larger currents to produce the same
amount of heat.

- The electrical resistivity , is independent of

specimen geometry but related to R through the expression
ElectricalConduction

Where:
l=distance between the two points at
which the voltage is measured
A = cross-sectional area perpendicular to
the direction of the current
-
= electrical resistivity, ohm-meters (m)
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B. Electrical Conductivity
Electrical conductivity, is used to specify the electrical character of a material. It
is simply the reciprocal of the resistivity and is indicative of the ease with which a
material is capable of conducting an electric current

The units for are reciprocal ohm-meters [ mho/m]

 ElectricalConduction

Ohms law may be expressed as:

Ohms law expressionin terms of current
density, conductivity, and applied electric field
Where:
J = current densitythe current per unit of
specimen area I/A
= electric field intensity, or the voltage
difference between two points divided by the
distance separating themthat is
 ElectricalConduction

One way of classifying solid materials is

according to the ease with which they conduct
an electric current; within this classification
scheme there are three groupings: conductors,
semiconductors, and insulators
 ElectricalConduction

CONDUCTORS INSULATORS SEMI-CONDUCTORS

-typically having conductivities on -are materials with very low -are materials with intermediate
the order of 107 conductivities, ranging between 10 conductivities, generally from 10-6
-10
and 10 -20 to 104
 ElectricalConduction

C. ELECTRONIC AND IONIC CONDUCTION

Electric current- results from the motion of
electrically charged particles in response to forces that
act on them from an externally applied electric field.

Electronic conduction- a current arises from the

flow of electrons within most solid materials.
 ElectricalConduction

Ionic conduction- for ionic materials a net

motion of charged ions is possible that
produces a current
 ElectricalConduction
Electronic Conductance vs Ionic Conductance
Electronic Conductance Ionic (Electrolytic ) Conductance

Electrons are the current carriers Ions are the current carriers
It is metals It is electrolytic solution
Conductivity decreases with increase in Conductivity increases with increase in
temperature temperature

High conductivity Low conductivity

Composition of metals will not change as Concentration of electrolytic solution will
current passed change when DC current is passed