You might have some electrical items to repair or attach, and while soldering creates a suitable conductive connection between the pieces, it doesn’t always work. It’s also not eco-friendly due to its toxic elements, and you can’t apply it to heat-sensitive parts. So, JB weld seems to be an alternative, but does it conduct electricity?
JB weld doesn’t conduct electricity. It’s an electrical insulator with 50% calcium carbonate and 30-40% epoxy resin. JB weld is heatproof and pressure-resistant in liquid and hardened forms. It’s used for medical electronics, communication devices, and microelectronics to extend device longevity.
Read on to learn more about JB weld, electrically conductive adhesives, and the most conductive materials.
What Is JB Weld?
JB weld is a two-part adhesive that you can apply on various surfaces such as glass, ceramic, metal, PVC, wood, fabric, or paper. You can also use it as a sealant, laminate, or electrical insulator to form a permanent bond.
It can withstand high pressure and continuous temperature up to 500°F (260°C)—and a maximum temperature up to 600°F (316°C) for 10-15 minutes.
JB weld is a permanent solution, meaning you can shape or drill it after treatment, and it consists of two tubes: the steel (black package of resin) and the hardener (the red one). To get the proper ratio, you need to squeeze equal amounts from both tubes and mix.
Why JB Weld Isn’t Electrically Conductive
JB weld comes with one steel-based tube, though it also contains a small amount of iron powder, which boosts the adhesive’s toughness and gives it a grey tone. Nevertheless, the amount of metal isn’t enough to be electrically conductive.
JB weld is mostly composed of insulator materials such as 50 percent calcium carbonate and 30-40 percent epoxy resin. Calcium carbonate is water-soluble, which makes it an insulator. The epoxy resin protects electrical particles from dust and moisture.
You can use JB Weld in motors, transformers, and bushings. But if you want to improve electrical and thermal interconnect in electronic systems, you should use electrically conductive adhesives.
Electrically Conductive Adhesives
You need to use electrically conductive adhesives for electronic components and devices such as mobile phones, iPads, LCDs, touch panels, medical devices, etc. These adhesives keep the items fixed in their place and provide electrical connections between them.
They typically consist of silver, gold, copper, carbon, iron, or other conductive materials, and you can use them where the applications can’t withstand soldering temperature.
Here’s a comparison of the best ingredients for electrically adhesive products:
| Material | Cost | Description |
| Ag (Silver) | Very high | The best conductor but it’s expensive. |
| Cu (Copper) | High | A good conductor, but beware of its impurity additions. |
| AI (Aluminum) | Medium | Not highly conductive. |
| Fe (Iron) | Low | Makes the adhesive very thick and heavy with low conductivity. |
Electrically conductive adhesives fall into two main categories:
- Isotropic conductive adhesives (ICA): ICA adhesives, also known as polymer solder, are usually conductive at all points. You can use them for die bonding, chip contacting, or handheld electronic gadgets such as MP3-player and mobile phones.
- Anisotropic conductive adhesives (ACA): ACA adhesives, also known as Z-axis, include unique conductive particles that convey an electrical flow in one direction only. You can use these adhesives for sensitive structures like LCD manufacturing, flip-chip, and antenna structures.
What Adhesives Are Conductive?
Here are a few electrically conductive adhesives that can be suitable alternatives to soldering. They have a high-reliability performance on sensitive electrical substrates. Besides, they’re solvent-free and eco-friendly.
- MG Chemicals Silver Conductive Epoxy Adhesive. This adhesive creates strong conductive connections like solder, and it’s suitable for various substrates. You can use it as a solder replacement to affix heat-sensitive electronic items like glass or plastics.
- Conductive Wire Glue. This adhesive is micro carbon-based and fully conductive. It doesn’t need soldering and works well on damaged AC and DC circuits. Simply stir the adhesive, apply it to the surface, and let it be there for a couple of hours. Now, you have a strong and permanent electrically conductive bond.
- Lovimag Copper Foil Tape. Copper foil tape can be useful for computer pieces, extendable antenna, cable, and machine components. You can twist, bend, and use it by hand. The conductive copper foil is moisture, chemical, and corrosion-resistant and keeps your electronic devices safe.
Conclusion
JB weld doesn’t conduct electricity; it’s an insulator and supports electrical conductors. Electrically conductive adhesives often contain some silver, copper, gold, nickel, or carbon.
These adhesives fall into two types: isotropic and anisotropic. Isotropic adhesives are fully conductive and suitable for devices such as mobile phones or MP3 players. Anisotropic adhesives have a one-way electrical flow, so you can use them for sensitive electrical items such as LCDs or antennas.