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Name:  Roland B.
Status:  other
Age:  40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
Is there a metal (alloy) that has a non-linear temperature coefficient in its electrical conductivity i.e. at elevated temperatures has significantly higher resistance?

Replies:
I think there are. Please look up electrical resistivity of metals and alloys in the set of references by Tolukian (I think they are called "Hand book of thermophysical properties." This should be available at major engineering school libraries.

AK

Ali Khounsary, Ph.D.
Advanced Photon Source
Argonne National Laboratory

The electrical resistance of most metals that I am aware of DOES increase with temperature; however, the change in resistance is not very dramatic. I believe that the resistivity of semi-conductors is much more temperature dependent.

Vince Calder

Roland -

I seem to recall that all metals increase electrical resistance with increased temperature. Whether it is non-linear or not, I do not know, but I believe nichrome (sp?) at least has a very steep slope on its graph of temp vs. resistance. Try the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics for real numbers.

Hope this lead helps.

Larry Krengel


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