Tips for Choosing Shielding Materials

EMI and RFI shielding are essential components of modern-day electronics. There is no electronic device on the markets, whether it is a navigation system or a medical device that isn’t directly affected by EMI. To meet the ever-changing demands of the electronics industry, EMI and RF shielding are constructed from different materials. How do you know which one is right for you? Below, we want to go over some of the most used materials and their differences. Hopefully, this makes designing easier for you.

Tin plating is commonly used because it offers exceptionally high corrosion protection to prevent rusting. It is also known to have great solderability across the entire surface, which makes it easy to attach the shield to different traces on the surface board.

Pre-tin plated steel is probably your best low-cost solution that does not compromise on performance. It works well in lower KHz range frequencies, as well as lower frequencies within the GHz range. Carbon steel is known to have a permeability value that is in the low hundreds range. This provides low-frequency magnetic shielding that is not matched in other materials like aluminum, alloy 770, and copper.

Copper is incredibly reliable. This is especially the case when working with radio frequencies. Copper absorbs both magnetic and radio waves. It is one of the best materials for attenuating electrical and magnetic waves.

EMI RFI Shielding

Copper alloy 770 is commonly referred to as alloy 770. It is a mixture of nickel, copper, zinc alloys. This alloy has the best corrosion resistance properties of all other RFI shielding materials.

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