What Is EMI Shielding and Why Do You Need It?

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Lucille Barrett
Lucille Barretthttps://bloggingkits.org
Future teen idol. Hardcore tv lover. Social media guru. Zombie aficionado. Travel scholar. Biker, shiba-inu lover, audiophile, Mad Men fan and proud pixelpusher. Working at the junction of minimalism and elegance to answer design problems with honest solutions. I'm fueled by craft beer, hip-hop and tortilla chips.

In today’s technological world, electronic devices continue to develop at a rapid pace. As more and more gadgets and electrical devices are invented, design engineers have to deal with a big issue- the interference of waves and signals produced by these electronics.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) signals are the nuisances faced by every industry where a wide variety of electronic devices are used. EMI and RFI pose a serious risk to electronic devices and if not controlled, these unwanted signals may damage your equipment. If you have ever wondered what EMI/RFI is and why shielding is important, this post will clear your doubts.

EMI Shielding

What is EMI-RFI?

With the emergence of thousands of electronics, millions of waves and signals keep floating through the air which causes disturbances. EMI refers to electromagnetic interference and RFI stands for radio-frequency interference. Almost every electronic device produces electromagnetic waves that may negatively affect other similar electronic devices. These interferences can cause a disturbance and can even degrade the effectiveness of a circuit within the device.

The EMI/RFI interferences are of two types- Narrowband and Broadband. Both these interferences may cause malfunctions in electronic devices. These interferences can be caused by two circuits inside a single product, or externally from another product. So to avoid the impact of EMI or RFI, it is necessary to use some kind of protection. And this is where you need EMI/RFI Shielding agents.

What is EMI/RFI Shielding?

Sometimes the design engineers can’t control a device from emitting signals. When this happens, it is still possible to prevent EMI with the help of an EMI-RFI shielded enclosure. Typically, EMI/RFI Shielding is a type of acrylic-based spray which is applied to plastic electronics housings. The EMI/RFI shielding agents contain extremely pure metals such as copper, silver, and nickel, to help eliminate the EMI/RFI interference. The EMI and RFI Shielding agents can also be applied as paints and brush on coatings.

The basic purpose of EMI shielding is to limits the amount of EMI radiation from the external environment that can penetrate the circuit. It involves surrounding electronics and cables with conductive or magnetic materials to form a protective layer against incoming or outgoing electromagnetic frequencies. It is noteworthy here that only protecting your electronic devices from EMI/RFI is not enough. It is equally important to make sure that your equipment isn’t doing any of the interfering. To ensure that EMI is not escaping into the external environment, the gaskets are used to absorb or reflect EMI.

To achieve maximum shielding, silver, aluminum or copper enclosures are the best option. However, these highly conductive materials don’t offer a cost-effective solution. So if you’re looking for an economical way to improve the electromagnetic compatibility of electronics, consider using EMI-RFI shielding spray on plastic enclosures.

EMI-RFI shielding is needed across all industries to ensure peak performance of operations. The EMI shielding gaskets, conductive tapes, and shielded windows have become a vital component of industries like military, aerospace, medical, environmental applications, and more.

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