Can Ceramic Conduct Electricity

Though fine ceramics also known as advanced ceramics are generally insulating materials that block electricity semiconductor ceramics can be created to conduct electricity depending on their temperature and the level of voltage applied.

Can ceramic conduct electricity. 10 electrical conductors the best electrical conductor under conditions of ordinary temperature and pressure is the metallic element silver. In a steel bearing current passes from inner ring to outer ring via the balls. Ceramic bearings vs steel bearings ceramic materials offer superior corrosion and heat resistance higher dimensional stability and lower density which facilitates high speed. Electrons can move freely in such materials.

Insulators or dielectrics are materials with tightly bound molecules and few if any free charged particles. Once in the conduction band the electron can move nearly freely and conduct electricity. Steel ball bearings can conduct electricity whereas full ceramic bearings hybrid ceramic bearings and plastic bearings are non conductive. An insulator does not conduct electricity.

A conductor will conduct electricity copper aluminium gold iron and silver are all conductors. Conductors are materials which have many mobile charged particles such as ions. Pure water is an insulator dirty water conducts weakly and saltwater with its free floating ions conducts well. Without free electrons there is no conduction and thus no current.

Sometimes ceramics insulate us from electricity and heat at the same time. Ceramic like all insulators doesn t conduct electricity because its outter most shell of electrons is full. This often occurs in electric motors and generators and applications where there is a build up of static electricity. Heating elements are often built into ceramic holders electric cooktops are made from high performance ceramic glass and incandescent lamps have glass bulbs that protect us from heat and electricity while protecting their filaments from the atmosphere.

A solid with a large band gap 2 5 ev is considered to be a good insulator and many ceramics have such large band gaps.