By incorporating electrically conductive fillers into plastics, they can be made conductive. If the right combination of raw materials is used, these plastics possess a so-called PTC behaviour (Positive Temperature Coefficient), i.e. the electrical resistance increases with rising temperature. By skilful selection of the matrix materials, the compound can be modified so that the resistance rises so much above a certain, adjustable temperature that there is virtually no current flow. This effect is reversible.

By “switching off” the material at a certain equilibrium temperature, self-regulating heating systems can be realized, among other things.

Time lapse 3:30 minutes