this is a hyperlink to an article, above my pay grade, regarding adding solid carbon to copper, thereby increasing its conductivity
Why not take a thicker wire?
Anyway, it does not increase conductivity.
It deceases the tempco.
Jan
Anyway, it does not increase conductivity.
It deceases the tempco.
Jan
Thanks for the heads-up.
Yes, as Jan might say, adding graphine has been found to decrease the temperature coefficient of copper.
Typically, introducing additives into a metal increases its temperature coefficient of resistance.
Yes, as Jan might say, adding graphine has been found to decrease the temperature coefficient of copper.
Typically, introducing additives into a metal increases its temperature coefficient of resistance.
Last edited:
Any incremental improvement is valuable: we could just use any metal to conduct electricity, including zinc, iron, etc., but we have settled for copper, mainly, aluminum too and silver where it really matters: HF coils.
We could dispense with such (relatively) expensive materials, but using them brings various, longer term advantages: a 1% gain in the efficiency of a high power transformer translates into $$$ after decades of use, which is why the the final cost is directly linked to the actual efficiency, and penalties can be severe in case the targets aren't met.
Any improvement is welcome, including for higher temperatures: motors for EV's work at an elevated temperature for compactness reasons, and if they can keep their cool performance under these conditions, their range will be improved.
Anyway, any counter-intuitive result is always worth further thinking: it can open the way to even better techniques.
What would our world look like without improvements like invar or constantan and their numerous children?
We could dispense with such (relatively) expensive materials, but using them brings various, longer term advantages: a 1% gain in the efficiency of a high power transformer translates into $$$ after decades of use, which is why the the final cost is directly linked to the actual efficiency, and penalties can be severe in case the targets aren't met.
Any improvement is welcome, including for higher temperatures: motors for EV's work at an elevated temperature for compactness reasons, and if they can keep their cool performance under these conditions, their range will be improved.
Anyway, any counter-intuitive result is always worth further thinking: it can open the way to even better techniques.
What would our world look like without improvements like invar or constantan and their numerous children?