soft emi/rfi gasketing
For years, NEDC has supplied low durometer gasketing materials to customers. One product that I realized has been underutilized the last few years is “low durometer EMI Gasketing”. On this website, we are making a large push to show we are a gasket manufacturer who sells A LOT OF EMI GASKETS. All types. In this blog, we discuss SOFT, SOFTER, and SOFTEST EMI Gasketing!
What counts as a “Low Durometer” EMI/RFI Material?
First thing to note, EMI gaskets are inherently high durometer components. Why is this? Well, these materials are filled with metal particles such as silver-aluminum, pure silver, silver-copper, and nickel-copper. Metal particulates are naturally hard. These particles reinforce the elastomer, but they also make it harder, or raise the durometer of the material. For this reason, it’s a particular challenge to make a soft durometer EMI/RFI gasketing material.
To me, anything 50 Durometer Shore A, and lower count as Soft EMI/RFI Gasketing. In this blog, we are only discussing Rubber Elastomers, not foam, or sponge.
Why would a Customer want “Low Durometer/Soft EMI/RFI Gasketing”?
Sometimes customers get in between a rock, and hard place (pun intended) where they need something soft, but also need material that is compressible with little closing force (reminder, most EMI gaskets should not be compressed more than 20% to maintain the integrity of the elastomers structure).
Nickel Graphite, 30A Durometer- Great for overall economic and Performance- Available through many manufacturers, SSP, SAS Industries
Silver Aluminum, 45A Durometer- Great for high level performance, SAS Industries, SSP
Silver Copper, 40A Durometer- Great EMI performance, Cho-Seal 1270
Well, is there something Softer, I need SOFTER?
There are softer EMI/RFI Gasketing materials. We discuss this in our EMI/RFI Gasketing/MIL-DTL-83528 page. There is:
-Silicone Sponge with embedded Oriented Wire
-Conductive Foam Options such as Condux, or Schlegel Gasketing
-Coated Silicone Sponge
-Combination Gaskets (this is wire glued onto silicone sponge, neoprene sponge, or fluorosilicone sponge)
-Another strategy is to utilize a hollow material such as a bulb extrusion to allow for super compressibility
More Information
NEDC manufactures low durometer EMI/RFI Gasketing materials into custom die-cut, waterjet cut gaskets. In addition, NEDC can add electrically conductive tape onto gasketing materials. For more information on EMI Gasketing materials, please contact sales@nedc.com.