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UltraconductorUltraconductors™ are organic polymers that are claimed to exhibit electrical resistance many orders of magnitude lower than the best metallic conductors. They do this at room temperature. This claim is debated in the scientific community. Note that Ultraconductor™ is trademarked, and should not be confused with the Ultra Conductor line of audio and video cables. These ultraconductors™, materials such as oxidized atactic polypropylene, are claimed by their manufacturer to have extremely high conductivity at ambient temperatures and pressures. If fully developed they have the potential to compete with superconductors in many fields, including wire and cable. Polypropylene, for example, is normally an insulator. However, beginning in 1981, researchers at an Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences discovered that an oxidized thin-film of atactic polypropylene can have a conductivity at least 100,000 times higher than the best refined metals. In 1993, a transition from basic science toward patentable technology, and development targeting applications, began in the U.S. The Meissner effect - often used as the criterion for superconductivity - cannot be observed for dimensional reasons, the electron chains are quasi-one dimensional. The critical transition temperature, estimated at 2,000 °F or more, is well above the point at which any of the various polymers that can be processed into ultraconductors break down (more than 800 °F). However, strong (giant) diamagnetism has been confirmed, and a critical current is observed. The polymers also violate the Wiedemann-Franz law by six or seven orders of magnitude -- a characteristic only found in superconductors. Ultraconductors™ have extremely high current density. They have been tested in magnetic fields to 9 Tesla with no loss of conductivity. Applications are likely to include motors, generators, MRI machines and transmission lines. External links See also The discussion page for this article
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