The majority of your equipment or appliances at home are made with rubber, ranging from buckets to your tires and rubber bands.
However, our focus is: does rubber conduct electricity? Rubber is known as a good insulator.
However, rubber in its natural or raw form does not conduct electricity but can when it comes in contact with water, impurities, and carbon black
Also, rubber can conduct electricity when there is a very high voltage for charged ions.
Rubber is unique because of its safety properties. As you further read along, we’ll explore the following: Does rubber conduct electricity? Rubber as an insulator and conductor and its distinctive properties.
Does Rubber Conduct Electricity?
There are many misunderstandings about rubber and its ability to conduct electricity or not. However, rubber can conduct electricity, although it depends on the material used or mixed with it, such as carbon or metallic substances.
Generally, it has been researched and proven that rubber is a poor conductor of electricity.
Besides, water can enhance rubber’s ability to conduct electricity; water has been proven to be a good conductor of electricity.
For instance, when your rubber gloves are wet and they come in contact with electricity, it can result in electrocution. Also, factors like temperature and impurities can improve the conductivity of rubber.
Surprisingly, several rubbers conduct electricity; they include carbon black-filled rubber, silicon rubber, fluorinated rubber, electrostatic discharge rubber, and lots more.
Rubber As An Insulator
Rubbers prevents electricity from moving through it; it serves as a barrier or blockage to electricity flow because it has a long polymer chain structure that restricts the free flow of electrons.
Researchers frequently instruct individuals working with or close to an electric pole, wire, or electric gadget to wear rubber gloves and shoes, this is to prevent electrocution.
Properties Of Rubber That Made It A Good Insulator
Rubber is made from latex and is used by many production industries. Some of its unique properties that make it a good insulator, include:
1. Its Molecular Structure
Have you noticed that rubber has a stretchy and bouncy nature? This happens because of its molecular structure.
When you stretch rubber, the molecules stretch out like a bunch of springs and when you let go, it snaps back into place, making it return to its original shape.
More so, since the molecules are tightly correlated, they don’t permit electricity to pass through them easily. It’s like trying to move a lot of tightly loaded marbles through a tiny hole.
Lastly, its molecular structure acts as an obstacle, deterring the flow of electricity. So even though rubber can bend or flex, it’s mostly good at keeping electricity safely contained inside.
2. High Resistance To Electricity
Rubber is tightly bound by electrons because they are not free to be shared by neighboring atoms. This property prevents the flow of electricity current through rubber and is a good insulator.
3. Heat Resistance
Rubber has a high resistance value to heat and prevents heat transfer due to its tightly bound electrons. It helps to keep the space warm and comfortable, making rubber a good insulator against heat.
4. Resistance To Water
Naturally, rubber is hydrophobic, which makes it resistant to water. Rubber prevents water from penetrating it compromising its insulating capabilities.
5. Durable And Long Lasting
This characteristic of rubber makes it a widely used material by several enterprises. However, this characteristic makes it a good insulator because it can serve for a long time.
Have Scientists Done Any Research To Figure Out If Rubber Conducts Electricity?
Researchers have done a lot of research to answer the question: does rubber conduct electricity or not? They’ve gone as far as testing rubber under different conditions to understand its electrical behavior.
One method they use in testing rubber is to gauge its opposition to electricity flow.
Furthermore, having discovered that rubber in its natural state is a poor conductor of electricity, they decided to mix rubber with some additives and impurities.
Upon mixing, they discovered that it conducts electricity, although it is not a good conductor of electricity. For instance, when rubber is mixed with carbon black, it increases its conductivity under specific conditions.
Researchers also studied the effect of temperature on rubber conductivity.
They discovered that as temperature increases, the conductivity of rubber also increases. This is because higher temperature cause the rubber molecules to vibrate, creating more space for electrons to move.
Uses Of Rubber
Rubber is widely used all over the globe. The uses of rubber include;
1. Rubber Band
Because of the elasticity properties of rubber, rubber has been used to produce rubber bands
2. Cooking Utensils
So much kitchen equipment like spoons, spatulas, bowls, graters, cutters, and lots more, is made of rubbers
3. Car Tires
Rubber is the best choice in producing car tires, which we see everyday.
4. Shoe Soles
Moulded rubber is also used in making of footwear soles because of its comfort.
5. Rain Boots
Due to its water resistance nature, rubber is used to make rain boots
6. Teething Toys
Infants cannot play without their teething toys, which are made up of rubber.
7. Bicycle Tires
This tire is similar to car tires and rubber is a preferred material for bicycle tires because of its water resistance and shock absorption properties.
8. Latex Gloves
Disposable gloves are made with rubbers — the elastic and affordable level made it the best choice.
9. Airbags
Rubber is used in the production of airbags which protect the drivers from getting injured in case of an accident.
10. In The Manufacturing Of Clothes
Rubbers are commonly used in the manufacturing of expandable and tight-fitting clothes. Examples of these clothes are swimming trunks, shorts, singlets, and lots more.
Final Words
Rubber does not conduct electricity; it is a good insulator because its molecules are closely clogged together which makes it hard for electrons to pass through it.
While rubber is a poor conductor of electricity it can still conduct electricity when mixed with additives. I believe we’ve been able to answer your question: can rubber conduct electricity?
You can go through it over again for better understanding.
