Everything in the universe conducts electricity, however, some materials are better at transferring a charge faster than others. Volume resistivity allows products designers to determine how strongly a material resists electrical current. In this post, we will discuss this fundamental physical property and how it can play a role in your polyurethane product design.
Volume resistivity, also known as bulk resistivity or electrical resistivity, is the material’s ability to resist the movement of electricity from one end of the material to the other end. The lower the volume resistivity, the higher the movement and more conductive the material will be.
Volume resistivity is reciprocal to conductivity which quantifies the electrical resistance through a material specimen. This process typically involves placing a material specimen between two electrodes and applying a voltage to one electrode and measuring the electrical current through the other electrode. The movement captured between opposing sides equates to volume resistivity, which is measured in ohm’s (Ω). Generally, results will vary depending on the applied voltage and environmental factors. For accurate results, there are several test methods available for product designers to employ, such as ASTM D257.
How to Use Volume Resistivity in Your Design
If you find volume resistivity is a key performance requirement in your design, this can easily be tailored by your manufacturer. For material assistance, complete our design tool, here, or click the button below to download our Durethane® C material data sheet.