VTI Vacuum Technologies Inc.

Why EMI Shielding||Benefits of Shielding||The Shielding Process
Applications for Shielding||Shielding Characteristic of Metals||FAQ||Glossary

What is RFI Shielding?

Many kinds of equipment require the use of RFI shielding for practical and/or legal purposes. For example, telecommunications devices need the shielding to prevent radio transmissions from distorting signals between devices near the same frequency.

RFI shielding essentially prevents electromagnetic pulses from interfering with the proper functioning of electronics. There are three factors that need to be operating simultaneously to interfere with electronic products: an interference source, an interference receptor, and a connection between the source and the receptor. The electromagnetic pulses may come from within the equipment itself, or they could originate from the outside. The shielding also protects other external equipment from potential interference caused by the product emitting the pulses.

RFI shielding for plastics can be accomplished with different forms:

• foil and conductive fabrics
• metallic inner shields
• plastics o RFI shielding compounds (plastics filled with conductive fibers)
  • conductive coatings
• Vacuum metallization
• Electroless plating
• Conductive paints

Radiation and Conduction with RFI Shielding

Shielding reduces RFI by reflecting and/or absorbing conductive materials. Equipment enclosures and circuit boards are common areas for shielding. If shielding is used correctly, it can protect electronic systems from external radiation by breaking the path of electromagnetic waves. Lower frequencies need thicker shielding to absorb wave energy, while higher frequencies require a thin shielding that mostly reflects wave energy. The distance between the shield and source of electromagnetic energy, as well as the shield’s material properties and energy’s frequency, will determine shielding performance.

RFI Shielding at VTI

VTI applies metallized plastic coatings in the form of vacuum evaporated technologies (VAETEC®) to plastic enclosures. Its state-of-the-industry metal plating process produces a consistently high level of metal plating quality. See more on the metal plating and shielding processes.

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Why EMI Shielding||Benefits of Shielding||The Shielding Process
Applications for Shielding||Shielding Characteristic of Metals||FAQ||Glossary