If someone asked you what common electronics are composed of, metal, glass and other traditional materials would probably come to mind. But now more than ever, plastics for electrical applications are becoming the most commonly used material, and for good reason. There are several surprising places where electronic plastic can be found, many of which are already in your home, and even in your pocket.
Cable And Wiring Insulation
Most household cables and wires have electrical enclosures to not only protect the wires inside, but also the people using them. Plastic is a great insulator, meaning it keeps electrical currents from leaking and protects people from the risk of electric shock. It is also resistant to corrosion and is generally fairly flexible, so the cable won't break down easily.
Circuit Boards
Electrical plastics are ideal for circuit board backings, providing a non-conductive surface for the copper tracks to run through. The electrical currents are contained solely to the conductive copper, resulting in safe and efficient parts for computers, televisions, phones and more. Most recently, electronic plastic is being used to 3D print circuit boards, which is helping to streamline the manufacturing process.
Circuit Breaker Housings
If a power surge occurs, you need to feel confident that your circuit breaker will be able to safely handle the influx of electrical energy. For this reason, circuit breaker housings often have plastic components to ensure no fires or other hazards occur. Electrical plastics are important for high voltage circuit breakers, where fire hazards are particularly prevalent.
Conduits
Electrical conduits play the important role of protecting and routing electrical wiring within a structure. They should also insulate the wires to prevent electrical leakage. As such, electrical plastics are a choice material for the job. Plastics can either be rigid or flexible, depending on the requirements of the project.
Casings
Electronic plastics like polycarbonate and ABS are used in all sorts of modern electronics. Cell phone casings, for example, are often made of chemically-treated polycarbonate to give them better scratch and impact resistance. These kinds of plastic can also stand up to extreme temperature fluctuations, so harsh winters are less likely to do damage to critical phone parts like your battery.
Learn More About Electronic Plastic With A&C Plastics
Improve your projects by leveraging our knowledge on all things plastic. Check out the rest of our Electrical Plastics Resource Center and head to our product pages to find the perfect sheet for your electrical applications.
