Why Plastic Is an Insulator

Why is plastic a good insulator? Plastics are poor heat conductors, because they have virtually no free electrons available for conduction mechanisms like metals. Thermal conduction is the transfer of heat from one part of a body to another with which it is in contact.

Why is plastic used as an insulator?

Explanation: They don’t have free electrons moving around (delocalised electrons) so they can’t conduct heat and electricity which gives them a property of good insulators.

Does plastic make a good insulator?

Plastics are excellent insulators, meaning they efficiently trap heat—a quality that is an advantage in something such as a coffee cup sleeve. The new polymers, which are lightweight and flexible, conduct 10 times as much heat as most commercially used polymers.