Investigating the properties of conductive clay and examining its potential as a teaching material

Abstract

In this study, we analysed the material properties of conductive clay and verified its effectiveness as a learning material in the electrical field. Regarding the relationship between the salt content ratio and electrical conductivity, it was found that the higher the salt content ratio, the higher was the electrical conductivity. However, when the salt content ratio was approximately 18%, the salt concentration in the clay approached saturation, and the electrical conductivity hardly changed. In addition, Hall effect experiments clarified that the charge carriers of conductive clay are mainly Cl−. Furthermore, it was clarified that by mixing ‘Thermoink’ with conductive clay, heat dissipation can be visualised by changing the colour of conductive clay. From these results, it became clear that conductive clay is an effective teaching material for children to learn about electrical resistance and the Hall effect while conducting experiments.