How electrically conductive is aluminium and zinc spray paint
I asked this question to ChatGPT today, which gave following answer:
Aluminium and zinc spray paints contain fine metal particles suspended in a binder, but their electrical conductivity is significantly lower than that of solid aluminium or zinc. The conductivity depends on factors such as:
- Metal Content: Higher metal content improves conductivity, but most paints have a relatively low percentage of metal particles.
- Binder Insulation: The non-conductive binder (resin) can reduce electrical contact between metal particles.
- Thickness & Application: A thick, well-applied layer with minimal binder can be more conductive, but it’s still far less than solid metal.
- Post-Processing: Some formulations become more conductive if burnished or compressed to improve particle contact.
Typical Conductivity:
- Zinc-rich paints: Some can be slightly conductive and are used in cathodic protection, but most act as a barrier rather than an electrical conductor.
- Aluminum spray paints: Generally not conductive unless formulated for shielding applications, where resistance is still high.
For good electrical conductivity, metal plating, metal-loaded epoxy, or conductive coatings designed for EMI shielding are better choices. If you need a conductive paint, look for products specifically labelled “conductive coating” rather than standard aluminium or zinc spray paints.