cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
(OP)
Hi,
I'm currently looking for an flexible, inert and electrically conductive material that can be mass produced. Cost would be the largest issue here.
I'm thinking of either electrically conductive plastics or graphite strips. Would like some advice on this. Thank you!
I'm currently looking for an flexible, inert and electrically conductive material that can be mass produced. Cost would be the largest issue here.
I'm thinking of either electrically conductive plastics or graphite strips. Would like some advice on this. Thank you!





RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Thanks for the reply. This is to be combined with geosynthetics to set up a current passing through soil for soil improvement, hence it needs to be inert. Most metals wouldn't fit the bill as they would undergo corrosion and contaminate the soil.
Best would be some material that can be produced in thin strips.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
You are going to get stupid answers as long as you don't provide sufficient input.
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Let's say about 3A, and a resistivity less than 10^-6. What would be the suitable materials (again, they have to be inert as they have to behave as both anodes and cathodes)
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Sounds like a job for stainless steel.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
What about conductive polymers or graphite? Most metals would be too expensive. This has to be installed in many millions of meters, so the unit cost is particularly important. A higher resistivity would be acceptable as well, as long as it is inert and does the job.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
This ignores issues associated with composites, including moisture absorption.
It seems to me that you are simply slinging mud and trying to see if anything sticks. This is not what I would do as an engineer. Moreover, you don't seem to have done much research for something that "has to be installed in many millions of meters." Where is your EE in this project; why isn't he doing this?
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Yes, sorry I am indeed "slinging mud" to see if anything sticks. This is more as a side interest of mine to think about solutions to implement cost-effective electro-osmosis ground improvement for clays, which normally requires millions of metres of prefabricated vertical drains (which will cost a bomb if the materials are expensive to make)
I'm interested in electro-conductive polymers and perhaps doping of polymers to increase the conductivity. I recently read a research paper that used ion beams to make polymers as conductive as metals. I think this is what is currently used by some companies. So that's an option as well.
What's the issue with a composite, why would water absorption be a problem? What about graphite-metal composite, with the graphite on the surface to protect the metal from corroding? Surely that would have better conductivity properties than pure graphite as well as being non-corrosive, more ductile and robust when handling.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Contrary to popular belief, plastics are not "cheap" - what makes plastic products cheap is their "in position" price which is usually a one operation process.
e.g. General purpose PP = £1.20 /kg
PA6 = £2.20
PPA + 30%CF = £20+ per kg
LCP + 30% CF = £65+ per kg
Stainless steel approx $3.50 /Kg (I'll let you do the maths!)
If you look on say "Matweb" or similar, you will find electrically conductive plastics, are, well, really not at all...
Yeah - that sounds cheap (It also sounds like they are looking for further funding!)
Cheers
Harry
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Thanks for the info, I guess using metal with a protective layer of graphite would, for now be the best option. What do you think of using that?
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
I can't have much insulation as I want very good conductivity to setup a electrochemical current through the soil. I need the "metal" to be covered by something inert (but still quite conductive) so that the metal doesn't just corrode away and reduce the system's conductivity.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
As mentioned before, sacrificial coatings can be used to mitigate this:
http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=corro...
http://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/993/sacri...
http://www.international-marine.com/paintguides/wh...
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RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Still interested to see if anyone has the perfect solution up their sleeve, but it isn't going to be cheap.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
Will the stuff still work if it acts as the anode and cathode in an electrochemical cell where the water has all sorts of ions?
@1gibson
It really needs to have continuous conductivity since we want to setup an uniform electrochemical current through the soil. Also, it would be best if sheets are available compared to wires.
RE: cheapest inert electrically conductive material that can be mass produced
You would need to take to a specialist
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