Conductive Plastic Materials

A new class of plastic materials has been developed. The outstanding characteristic of these materials resides in the fact that they have substantial and predeterminable electrical conductivities, and yet possess the desirable general mechanical and fabrication properties of ordinary plastics. Thermosetting, thermoplastic and elastomeric variants have been produced. Representative data for one type are presented in tabular form. Particular attention is called to the significant thermal and electrical conductivities; the latter is approximately 1012 times that of a general purpose phenolic. The material follows Ohm´s Law at low and moderate current densities and appears to be free of frequency variation effects. The range of resistivities covered by these conductive plastic materials is indicated. The range extends roughly from the resistivity of distilled water to values approaching that of mercury.