Electrical Conductivity of Common Polymers and Plastics
Polymers and plastics generally exhibit poor electrical conductivity compared to metals and other conductive materials. This is because the molecular structure of most polymers consists of long chains or large molecules with limited charge mobility.
The following table provides a list of electrical conductivity values for common polymers and plastics in Siemens per meter (S/m) units.
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at standard room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atmospheric (atm) pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
| Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | 10-13 |
| Cellulose acetate (CA) | 10-10 |
| Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) | 10-13 |
| Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) | 10-15 |
| Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) | 10-6 |
| Nylon 6 (PA6) | 2×10-11 |
| Nylon 11 (PA11) | 10-11 |
| Nylon 12 (PA12) | 10-11 |
| Nylon 46 (PA46) | 10-11 |
| Nylon 66 (PA66) | 10-11 |
| Perfluorinated alkoxy (PFA) | 10-16 |
| Phenol formaldehyde (PF) | 10-10 |
| Polyamide-imide (PAI) | 10-15 |
| Polyarylate resins (PAR) | 10-10 |
| Polybenzeneimidazole (PBI) | 10-11 |
| Polybutadiene (BR) | 10-13 |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 10-14 |
| Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) | 10-14 |
| Polyetherimide (PEI) | 10-13 |
| Polyethersulfone (PESU) | 10-15 |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | 10-13 |
| Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) | 10-13 |
| Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) | 10-15 |
| Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) | 10-6 |
| Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) | 10-13 |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 10-12 |
| Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) | 10-14 |
| Polyimide (PI) | 10-16 |
| Polyisoprene (PIP) | 10-13 |
| Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 10-13 |
| Polymethylpentene (PMP) | 10-14 |
| Polyoxymethylene (POM) | 10-13 |
| Polyphenylene oxide (PPO) | 5×10-16 |
| Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) | 10-12 |
| Polypropylene (PP atactic) | 10-14 |
| Polypropylene (PP isotactic) | 10-14 |
| Polypropylene (PP syndiotactic) | 10-14 |
| High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) | 10-14 |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 10-14 |
| Polysulfide rubber (PSR) | 10-6 |
| Polysulfone (PSU) | 10-14 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | 10-16 |
| Polyurethane (PUR) | 10-10 |
| Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) | 10-10 |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) | 10-12 |
| Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) | 10-7 |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 10-14 |
| Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) | 10-12 |
The electrical conductivity values in this table are approximate and can vary based on specific formulations, conditions, and testing methods.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook. United States: CRC Press, 2000.