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Methods used to strengthen metals generally also cause a pronounced decrease in electrical conductivity, so that a tradeoff must be made between conductivity and mechanical strength. We synthesized pure copper samples with a high density of nanoscale growth twins. They showed a tensile strength about 10 times higher than that of conventional coarse-grained copper, while retaining an electrical conductivity comparable to that of pure copper. The ultrahigh strength originates from the effective blockage of dislocation motion by numerous coherent twin boundaries that possess an extremely low electrical resistivity, which is not the case for other types of grain boundaries.

Systems and methods presented herein provide for elastic conductors. The elastic conductors may be configured with a primary that includes an elastic material and a conductive material. For example, the primary may have an elastic fiber, such as spandex, with a conductive material, such as a braided metal wire, wrapped thereabout. Alternatively, the primary may be configured from an elastic material with a conductive material, such as certain nanopartiuclates, embedded therein. The elastic conductors may be used in a variety of ways to form various types of cables. For example, the elastic conductors may be configured to form coaxial cables, USB cables, twisted pairs, etc. The elastic and flexible nature of the cables may make their uses advantageous in wiring environments that are subjected to strain or other harsh conditions. Moreover, the relatively light weight of the cables may make their uses more advantageous in transportation (e.g., aircraft, automobiles, etc.).

researchers have managed to develop some new power-conducting plastics, able to slash the cost of making solar panels.

The most common traditional materials used in electrical energy distribution systems are copper and copper alloys.

Pure metallic carbon nanotubes could be the key to overhauling the electrical power grid with more efficient transmission lines - but only if they could be made in huge quantities and uniformly. Through a refined version of a technique called “amplification,” researchers at Rice University plan to make long and highly conductive nanotube fibers they dubbed “armchair quantum wire”  that could be woven into more efficient electrical transmission lines. They eagerly plan to generate a large quantity of this material by the end of summer. Aaron Franklin, a researcher at IBM’s Watson Research Center says that the update Rice study probably doesn’t reveal “the golden ticket for achieving high volumes of metallic-only tubes,” reports MIT Technology Review. We’ll just have to wait and see. Learn more.

3 March 2010—In a development that if independently confirmed could lead to an entirely new class of superconductors, a group of Japanese scientists—led by Professor Yoshihiro Kubozono of Okayama University—is reporting that a simple hydrocarbon, picene, exhibits superconductivity below 18 kelvin, a relatively high temperature. The Japanese team details its findings in this week’s issue of Nature

The electrical sector contributes the highest with 36 per cent, while the automotive and construction sectors share 22 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, an ICRA report said

Most importantly, replacement of steel and copper by aluminium in the automobile and power transmission sectors, respectively, is likely to support the aluminium demand.

Being a good conductor of electricity, aluminium has been gradually replacing copper in the power transmission sector. Given the same weight of the metal aluminium is twice as good in electrical conductivity when compared to copper.

Thin superconductor wires conduct the same power as the thick copper

The CNT thread could become a preferred alternative to copper wires. Conductivity is so good that a tiny CNT light source may be capable of emitting light at levels rivaling that of existing incandescent or fluorescent bulbs while consuming substantially less power.

The difference between the prices of copper and aluminum is now enough to cover the costs of retooling some manufacturing processes and pay for the extra aluminum it takes to conduct the same amount of electricity as copper

Copper’s rally above $10000/tonne on the LME was tested as markets became concerned over demand for the red metal. This is because industrial consumers could find a way to substitute this metal. However, we do not expect this move to take place in the immediate future as copper has major applications in various industries and it may not be easy to change course in the near future. Areas where copper can be replaced can be cables where aluminum can be used. But the concern in this case will be its lower conductivity which would not prove to be a great option. Hence, we do not foresee high prices to deter demand in the immediate future as substitution would require manufacturers to incur huge expenses.

Researchers report metallic-like conduction of an electrical charge across the biofilm of specialized bacteria, opening new possibilities for environmentally-sustainable nanomaterials and nano-electronic devices.

A number of field tests have been conducted to evaluate the properties and performance of hybrid sol-gel coatings - the most notable of which so far has been at the Thames Barrier in London. Above, the three plates shown were submerged for six months at the Thames Barrier. The results show clearly corrosion of the bare aluminium sample (B), some protection with the sol-gel coating without bacteria (C) but no corrosion/biofouling of the biocoat sample (A).