Electrical-surface resistance

The electrical surface resistivity and charge-decay time of most materials vaiy substantially with the relative humidity. It is important that materials be tested at the lowest RH expected in use. Items that are antistatic at 50 percent RH may not be antistatic at 20 percent RH. 

The use of ABS has in recent years met considerable competition on two fronts, particularly in automotive applications. For lower cost applications, where demands of finish and heat resistance are not too severe, blends of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubbers have found application (see Chapters 11 and 31). On the other hand, where enhanced heat resistance and surface hardness are required in conjunction with excellent impact properties, polycarbonate-ABS alloys (see Section 20.8) have found many applications. These materials have also replaced ABS in a number of electrical fittings and housings for business and domestic applications. Where improved heat distortion temperature and good electrical insulation properties (including tracking resistance) are important, then ABS may be replaced by poly(butylene terephthalate). 

A relatively new arrangement for the study of the interfacial region is achieved by so-called emersed electrodes. This experimental technique developed by Hansen et al. consists of fully or partially removing the electrode from the solution at a constant electrical potential. This ex situ experiment (Fig. 9), usually called an emersion process, makes possible an analysis of an electrode in an ambient atmosphere or an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Research using modem surface analysis such as electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), electroreflectance, as well as surface resistance, electrical current, and in particular Volta potential measurements, have shown that the essential features (e.g., the charge on... 

IEC 60093, Methods of test for volume resistivity and surface resistivity of solid electrical insulating materials, 1980. 

For example, the required lower bulk electrical resistance and surface contact resistance are directly related to reducing internal power consumption in fuel cells to achieve maximum power output. The requirements of high flexural strength and flexibility (ultimate strain) are important to assure no distortion of fluid fields and no crack in a plate sustained in the large compressive loading when each unit cell is assembled together as a stack. This is particularly important when the thickness of the plate becomes thinner and thinner (can be close to or less than 1 mm [9]) and the dimension of the fluid field becomes smaller and smaller. Whether it is elastic or plastic, the large... 

There are a number of electrical properties related to electrical resistance (ASTM D-257). These include insulation resistance, volume resistivity, surface resistivity, volume resistance, and surface resistance. 

The Physical Properties are listed next. Under this loose term a wide range of properties, including mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties of elements are presented. Such properties include color, odor, taste, refractive index, crystal structure, allotropic forms (if any), hardness, density, melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure, critical constants (temperature, pressure and vol-ume/density), electrical resistivity, viscosity, surface tension. Young s modulus, shear modulus, Poisson s ratio, magnetic susceptibility and the thermal neutron cross section data for many elements. Also, solubilities in water, acids, alkalies, and salt solutions (in certain cases) are presented in this section. 

Table 8.10 Electrical Surface Resistance of the Layers from Different Acidic Baths at 60°C (99)...

The electrical surface resistance of the copper layers from different acidic baths after different depositions times is shown in Table 8.10. 

Because the surface of rubbers may conduct electricity more easily than the bulk of the material, it is usual to distinguish between volume resistivity and surface resistivity. Volume resistivity is defined as the electrical resistance between opposite faces of a unit cube, whereas surface resistivity is defined as the resistance between opposite sides of a square on the surface. Resistivity is occasionally called specific resistance. Insulation resistance is the resistance measured between any two particular electrodes on or in the rubber and, hence, is a function of both surface and volume resistivities and of the test piece geometry. Conductance and conductivity are simply the reciprocals of resistance and resistivity respectively. 

Surface Resistance For opaque substrates or very thick metal layers, measurement of the thickness optically is not feasible. For such materials eddy currents (induced current) are used to measure the electrical surface resistance of the metal layer and, consequently, the thickness of the metallized layer. The thinner the metal layer, the higher its resistance. Surface resistance is inversely proportional to the thickness of the layer (proportionality factor depending on the material). 

The surface preparation method must be carefully considered, especially if the completed weldbond is to have long-term durability to hostile environments. The surface preparation should provide an optimal surface for both adhesion and welding. Thus, the choice of surface treatment is crucial, and there can be a conflict of requirements. The spot welding process requires a low electrical surface resistance, and many adhesive surface preparation processes provide a high surface resistance because of oxide layer buildup. When it is impossible to harmonize on a surface treatment, current practice tends to favor treatments that yield good weld nuggets at the expense of the adhesive bond. 

Extensive work has been devoted to aluminum electroplating in nonaqueous systems. Choosing appropriate bath compositions enables aluminum to be deposited at high efficiency and purity from nonaqueous electrolyte solutions. Comprehensive reviews on this matter have appeared recently in the literature [123,455], This work has led to the development of a number of commercial processes for nonaqueous electroplating of aluminum. The quality of the electroplated aluminum is very similar to that of cast metal. For instance, electrodeposited aluminum can be further anodized in order to obtain hard, corrosion resistive, electrically insulating surfaces. It is also possible to electroplate A1 on a wide variety of metal surfaces, including active metals (e.g., Mg, Al), nonactive metals, and steel. 

This article has addressed a number of issues relating to the electrical properties of paper or fibrous structures. It was shown that reliable measurement methods are now available for estimating both the bulk and surface conductivities of paper. In the case of the bulk conductivity, a new in situ pressure conductivity cell was described which significantlyreduces contact resistance. The surface conductivity can be determined by the application of a modified four-point probe method first used on paper by Cronch<15). It was shown that the degree of refining has a small effect on the bulk conductivity of paper. 

Electrostatic spraying of powders is now a commercial reality. Golovoy (6) cites particle size, spherical particle shape, and electrical surface resistivity of the powder blend as important factors in deposition efficiency. 

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