What materials are good insulators?

Good insulators are materials that do not allow heat to pass through them. They are also materials that either slow down or do not allow transfer of electricity through them.

Insulators are generally used to protect components from heat, electricity or sound. They are normally made of materials that are poor conductors of heat, sound or electricity. Some examples of insulators include:

• Wood
• Plastic
• Porcelain
• Rubber
• Ceramic
• Asphalt

Below are some practical examples of how insulators are used in everyday life.

• Insulators like plastic are used in encasing electric wires in order to avoid exposure. Exposed electric wires can easily come into contact with water and cause a fire outbreak, or they may electrocute human beings and animals.
• Insulators such as rubber are used as silencers in areas where noise is being managed. Some executive offices feature walls that have been designed using such insulators in order to shield those inside from outside noise that may be caused by industry or traffic.
• Insulators including plastic, Styrofoam and reflective materials may be used to stop thermal energy from moving to certain regions. These insulators are poor conductors of heat, which is why they effectively form protection. Ceiling boards and thermos designs are good examples of heat insulators.