Conductive paints

Conductive paint is created by mixing an electrically conductive pigment into a non-conductive resin binder. The pigment forms an electrical pathway within the paint, allowing charges to flow. It's most effective when the pigment is concentrated and shaped like flakes or tubes, rather than spheres.

Different pigments offer varying electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and prices. For instance, carbon is cost-effective and suitable for shielding and grounding, while silver provides the highest conductivity and is great for high-frequency shielding. Nickel and Silver-Coated Copper offer good overall electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding, with Silver-Coated Copper excelling at higher frequencies.

The choice of binder affects adhesion, durability, and chemical resistance, as well as the application method. MG offers conductive paints with various binding systems, such as solvent-based, water-based, epoxy, and urethane.

Applications include EMI/RFI shielding, circuit prototyping and repair, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, grounding surfaces, preventing galvanic corrosion, and electroplating plastics.