science

[sanjeewa]

Aluminium is a conductor or semi conductor?

[zonalgman92]

Compared to copper, aluminium has about 65% of the electrical conductivity by volume, although 200% by weight.
Traditionally copper is used as household wiring material. In the 1960s aluminium was considerably cheaper than copper, and so was introduced for household electrical wiring in the United States, even though many fixtures had not been designed to accept aluminium wire. However, in some cases the greater coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminium causes the wire to expand and contract relative to the dissimilar metal screw connection, eventually loosening the connection. Also, pure aluminium has a tendency to creep under steady sustained pressure (to a greater degree as the temperature rises), again loosening the connection. Finally, Galvanic corrosion from the dissimilar metals increased the electrical resistance of the connection. (Wikipedia-Aluminium)

[Bert]

That's all very interesting, zonalgman, but, in answer to sanjeewa's question, aluminium is absolutely a conductor. It is a metal, by any definition.

[chakka35]

The conducting material that carts electricity across the country in overhead power lines is aluminium, with a central core of steel purely for strength.