Condutiva

Condutiva is the property of a material to permit the flow of electric charge, and in a broader sense, of thermal energy, through its structure. In Portuguese, the adjective condutiva describes substances with appreciable ability to conduct electricity, as well as materials with high thermal conductivity. Electrical conduction arises from charge carriers: electrons in metals and holes or ions in nonmetals and electrolytes. The electrical conductivity, denoted sigma (S/m), quantifies how readily a material carries current; its reciprocal is resistivity (ohm-meters). Temperature affects conductivity: metals generally lose conductivity when heated, semiconductors often gain conductivity with increasing temperature, and ionic conductors depend on ion mobility.

Materials are grouped by conductivity: conductors (high sigma, e.g., copper, silver, aluminum), semiconductors (e.g., silicon, germanium, certain compounds), insulators (low sigma), and ionic conductors (electrolytes) and conductive polymers. Carbon-based materials, including graphene and carbon nanotubes, and various composites, also show notable condutivity. Electrical properties are measured by methods such as four-point probe and impedance spectroscopy; data may include anisotropy in crystalline or textured materials.

Applications span electrical wiring, integrated circuits, energy storage devices, electrochemical cells, sensors, and electromagnetic interference shielding. The term condutiva is often used alongside condutividade térmica to describe a material's ability to transfer heat, quantified by thermal conductivity (k) in W/m·K. Understanding condutiva aids material selection for efficiency, safety, and durability in technological systems.