Which of the following materials is a good conductor of heat but a bad conductor of electricity?

Which of the following materials is a good conductor of heat but a bad conductor of electricity? Correct Answer Mica

Mica:

  • Mica is a good conductor of heat but a bad conductor of electricity.
  • It means mica has a very capable dielectric function, making it ideally suited for applications that require an effective heat conductor and electric insulator.
  • Electrical current and heat are intricately linked. A conductor will resist some of the energy flow when electrons pass through it (how much resistance depends on the quality of the conductor). The energy that does not flow through the conductor is converted instead into heat energy.
  • This thermal energy can be used to heat up a wire so that it becomes a heating element. This is the principle behind the heat generated in a wide number of consumer appliances, such as hairdryers, toasters, electric iron, and heaters.
  • These appliances, while creating heat, must be safe to use and consistently capable to operate efficiently. Therefore they require an electrical insulator which will not prevent heat from being generated. Hence mica is used in those appliances.
  • Because mica is an insulating material that does not conduct electricity, it provides advanced electrical insulation between electric circuit lines and is widely used as a material in wiring boards and as the basis for electronic components.
  • Mica is used in various components such as capacitors and resistors because its superior dielectric strength will help guarantee the high performance of key electrical instruments. At the same time, its heat conductive properties mean it can offer an assured level of protection.
  • Mica provides resistance to temperatures up to 650°C and can withstand powerful electric fields. 
  • In product form for the power electronics industry, mica comes in tubes and as manufactured components such as transistor parts, heating elements, washers, and gaskets.

Related Questions

The following question have three statements. Study the question and the statements and decide which of the statement(s) is/are necessary to answer the question. An electricity company losses 16% of the supplied electricity in power losses. Find the loss in rupees per day. Statement I: Per unit price of electricity paid by the consumer is Rs. 3.5. Statement II: Daily electricity supply from the company is 1.65 lakh units. Statement III: The cost to the company for every 15000 unit electricity losses is Rs. 14500.