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Applications

Radiation shielding finds applications in a wide range of industries and settings where protection from ionizing radiation is crucial. One of the primary applications is in the medical field, particularly in radiology, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine. Radiation shielding is used to protect healthcare workers and patients from exposure to X-rays, gamma rays, and other forms of ionizing radiation during medical imaging procedures, radiotherapy treatments, and nuclear medicine diagnostics.

In the nuclear industry, meanwhile, radiation shielding is vital to safeguard workers and the public from potential radiation hazards. Nuclear power plants use shielding materials in their reactor design and infrastructure to contain and minimize the release of radiation. Additionally, during nuclear fuel handling, transportation, and waste storage, shielding ensures safe handling and storage of radioactive materials.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is another crucial application of radiation shielding. In industries like aerospace, manufacturing, and infrastructure, NDT methods such as radiography and computed tomography (CT) are used to inspect the integrity of materials and components. Radiation shielding ensures that the personnel conducting these tests are protected from harmful radiation exposure.

Radiation therapy in industrial applications, such as sterilization processes and material testing, also requires shielding to protect operators and bystanders from radiation exposure. For instance, in the food industry, gamma irradiation is used for food preservation and safety, and adequate shielding is essential to ensure the safety of workers and consumers.

Likewise, in space exploration, radiation shielding becomes vital due to the absence of the Earth’s protective atmosphere. Spacecraft and space habitats must be designed with shielding materials to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation and solar radiation during long-duration space missions.

Radiation shielding is additionally used in research settings, including particle accelerators and laboratory experiments, where ionizing radiation is produced. Shielding materials are employed to protect researchers and equipment from potential radiation hazards.

Beyond industrial and medical applications, radiation shielding is employed in various security measures, such as in the construction of screening systems at airports and ports. These systems use radiation sources for security scanning, and shielding ensures the safety of both operators and the public.

In summary, radiation shielding plays a vital role in numerous applications across diverse industries, safeguarding individuals, workers, and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Its importance extends from medical and nuclear industries to aerospace, research, security, and beyond, making it a critical component in various aspects of modern society.

Products Produced

EMI shielding service products include: EMI enclosures, EMI coatings, EMI filters, EMI gaskets, RF filters and conductive filters.

EMI Connector-Seal – Spira Manufacturing Corporation

EMI Enclosure

EMI enclosures, also called faraday cages, work by surrounding, or enclosing, the equipment it is shielding. EMI enclosures can be solid, but this is not necessarily a requirement; if an application allows for it, they may also be made of perforated metal. The only stipulation is that the metal holes must be smaller and closer together than the electromagnetic waves they are blocking. To visualize this, picture a microwave oven, which utilizes them. Each wall within the microwave is made of a perforated metal sheet. These sheets stop microwaves from escaping while allowing just enough light to pass through for us to see in.

EMI Coating

EMI coatings provide flexible shielding. It is made when manufacturers join a carrier material to a conductive metal, such as copper, chromium alloys or nickel, in order to form a metallic ink. Shielding service providers then spray this coating onto the inside of non-conductive enclosures, on wires and on the interior of other electronic device housings. In addition, EMI coatings can sometimes be brushed on or painted.

EMI Filter

An EMI filter is a passive electronic device that suppresses EMI created and emitted by surrounding electronic devices and equipment. EMI filters are specifically used to block the incoming and outgoing non-RFI interference that is conducted through power lines and signals. They can also shunt high EMI frequencies to allow normal and low frequencies to come and go. To do so, they are usually integrated into or attached to the switch or power source that they are shielding.

EMI Gasket

EMI gaskets are made from electronically conductive rubber materials as well as, frequently, EMI shielding metals. They prevent the leakage of EMI into or out of the seams and gaps of enclosures. EMI gaskets are a newer addition to the EMI shielding family, who offer more potent protection from those radio frequencies that are ever increasing in strength.

RF Absorber

RF absorbers, also known as radar absorbers or microwave absorbers, focus on RFI protection. To do their job, they absorb the energy before it can penetrate the equipment.

Conductive Fabric

Conductive fabric, also known as metalized fabric, is not fabric in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a shielding type made from a fabric substrate (ex. nylon, polyester) combined with metal, or metal alone. It also sometimes features an elastomer core that helps it compress and increase its deflection range. Conductive fabric can be knit, woven or nonwoven. A common example of conductive fabric is knitted metal wire mesh. Conductive fabric applications are quite diverse. For example, it can be hung as a protective tapestry for an entire room, or it may be cut for use as a gasket element.

History

EMI shielding originates with the Faraday cage. In 1836, its namesake, Michael Faraday, piggybacked off of Benjamin Franklin’s 1755 discovery that you can block electric charges. Faraday built the first Faraday cage as a room, coated completely with metal foil. To demonstrate that the foil would shield the interior from an electric charge, he then got an electrostatic generator to create high-voltage discharges outside of the room. Just as he hypothesized, the inside walls collected no charge.

About a century later, after radio technology had become quite big, the powers that be decided it was time to start addressing the burgeoning issue of EMI and RFI. During a meeting of the International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) in Paris, members proposed the formation of what became CISPR (International Special Committee on Radio Interference). This was the first regulatory committee of its kind. It crafted most of those EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) regulations in place today. In 1979, the United States began enforcing EMI regulations, and the European Union followed suit in the mid-1980s.

Since regulatory boards started taking notice, EMI and RF/RFI have become more prevalent and pervasive in our world than ever before. Not only do we use more electronic devices now, but those devices are much more sensitive and prone to disruption by EMI noise than ever before. To match the need for more and better EMI shielding, scientists and engineers have developed shielding materials that are stronger and can be applied to smaller spaces.

Materials Process

There are a wide variety of materials used to create EMI and RFI shielding. However, the EMI shielding process requires a conducting surface, so it uses almost only metal. Those metals used for shielding services must also have high magnetic permeability and good magnetic energy absorption. While copper, steel and steel alloys, aluminum and nickel are all commonly utilized shielding materials, the industry standard is an alloy called MuMetal®.

Similarly, EMI enclosures are generally constructed using solid or perforated stainless steel, nickel, copper alloy or aluminum. Usually, gaskets are die-cut pieces made of electrically conductive rubber materials, attached to an EMI shield.

Copper

Copper is an excellent and incredibly common magnetic shield material. Shielding providers value, it for its effectiveness at blocking and reducing EMI and RFI, and its great formability. Its only drawback is that it costs more than others.

Steel

Steel metal is traditionally valued for its strength and durability. As a shielding material, though, it is more valued for its permeability, as it allows it to effectively block low-frequency EMI. This is especially true of stainless steel and carbon steel.

Aluminum

In EMI shielding, aluminum is valued for its characteristics of non-ferrous-ness, lightness and high conductivity.

Nickel

Nickel is a popular shielding material that is valued for its: magnetism, durability, hardness and electrical conductivity. It can be utilized in a few different ways. First, it can be used alone as a shield. Second, it can be part of an alloyed electromagnetic shield material.

MuMetal®

MuMetal® is an alloy that features metals including iron, copper, nickel and molybdenum. Offering the highest level of EMI/RF reduction out there, it also has very high magnetic permeability.

Conductive Rubber

The conductive rubbers used in EMI/RFI shielding include silicone and neoprene. Silicone is known for its ability to maintain its flexibility, tensile strength and resilience in the face of a wide range of temperatures. Meanwhile, neoprene is known for its good compression and general usefulness.

How It Works

EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) shielding works by employing conductive or magnetic materials to create a physical barrier that intercepts and redirects electromagnetic waves away from sensitive electronic components or circuits. These materials, often metals or alloys like copper, aluminum, or steel, possess the ability to absorb, reflect, or disperse electromagnetic energy. When surrounding electronic devices or circuitry with EMI shielding, it forms a conductive enclosure that acts as a shield against incoming electromagnetic radiation. As a result, any external electromagnetic interference that attempts to penetrate the shield is either absorbed or redirected around the protected area, preventing it from causing disruptions or malfunctions. Additionally, EMI shielding can also be utilized internally within electronic devices to isolate and protect individual circuits from interfering with one another, ensuring signal integrity. Overall, the effectiveness of EMI shielding lies in its capacity to create a controlled environment that mitigates the impact of unwanted electromagnetic radiation, safeguarding sensitive electronics and enabling them to function reliably even in electrically noisy surroundings.

Design Considerations

Manufacturers of EMI shielding devices must consider several critical factors during the design process to ensure the effectiveness and suitability of the shielding solution for specific applications. First and foremost, they need to determine the required shield effectiveness or attenuation level needed to sufficiently block or redirect electromagnetic interference. This consideration depends on the sensitivity of the electronic components or circuits being protected and the level of EMI/RF (Radio Frequency) strength present in the environment.

The application scope and size also play a crucial role in the design. Different applications may require EMI shielding in various forms, such as gaskets, tapes, coatings, or complete enclosures. Manufacturers must tailor the shielding solution to match the specific requirements of the application, taking into account factors like available space, weight constraints, and installation ease.

Flexibility is another important aspect, especially when the shielding needs to conform to irregular shapes or varying contours of the device or equipment. In situations where the electronic device or equipment experiences mechanical stresses or movements, the shielding must be flexible enough to adapt without compromising its shielding effectiveness.

Likewise, industry and region-specific standards and regulations are vital considerations. Manufacturers must adhere to applicable EMI/EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) standards, such as those set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, the European Union’s Conformité Européenne (CE) marking, or CISPR (International Special Committee on Radio Interference) standards. Compliance with these regulations ensures that the shielding meets established performance criteria and does not cause interference with other devices.

Device or equipment sensitivity is often a key factor in designing EMI shielding. Some devices are highly sensitive to electromagnetic interference and may require more robust shielding solutions with higher attenuation levels to provide adequate protection.

Moreover, the choice of materials is crucial in EMI shielding design. The selection of conductive or magnetic materials depends on factors like the frequency range of the interference and the desired shielding effectiveness. Additionally, factors like cost, durability, and environmental impact may also influence material selection.

Overall, successful EMI shielding design necessitates a comprehensive assessment of the specific application, understanding the device’s sensitivity, compliance with industry standards, and tailoring the shielding solution to meet the required flexibility, size, and shielding effectiveness for optimal electromagnetic interference protection.

Variations and Similar Services

Similar to EMI shielding are a few different services, most notably among them vacuum metallization. Vacuum metallization is an emerging EMI/RF shield alternative that involves depositing conductive metal condensation onto a substrate. To do so, manufacturers heat the metal inside a vacuum chamber until it starts boiling. Once boiling, the metal begins dripping condensation onto the substrate, which eventually dries, forming a protective layer.

Benefits

EMI shielding provides customers with innumerable advantages, among them: health protection, improved equipment performance, durability and sustainability.

Health

First, EMI shielding offers the distinct benefit of protection humans EMI exposure, and the potential health problems that come along with it. These problems range from the irritating to the debilitating. Examples include: tingling sensations, human tissue heating, eye damage and burns. In addition, there is concern over the long-term effects of EMI/RFI exposure, such as the possibility of cancer.

Performance

EMI/RF shielding services also greatly improve the performance of your electrical devices and equipment. They don’t only prevent malfunction, but they improve efficiency and slow degradation.

Durability

Next, EMI shielding is long-lasting. As time goes on, the investment will only prove more valuable.

Sustainability

Finally, EMI/RF shielding (aside from coatings) is recyclable. In addition to contributing to sustainability, this lowers your costs.

Things to Consider

EMI shielding is an essential service, and a good service provider is equally essential. In this climate of information overload and extreme competitiveness, though, it can be hard to discern who the best EMI shielding provider might be. The search can be quite confusing.

Fortunately, you’ve come to this page. Here, we’ve compiled for you a list of several knowledgeable, skilled and customer-oriented EMI shielding companies. Our comprehensive list also features company profiles, contact information and website links. All of those whom we list are excellent electromagnetic shielding product manufacturers and suppliers. However, not every single one will be right for you. To figure that out, we recommend you peruse each of their websites and study the products and services they offer. Select three or four to whom you’d like to speak more, and then reach out to them individually. Discuss your application at length, making sure to touch on things like: lead times, budgets and standard requirements. After you’ve spoken to each of them, choose from among the one you believe will best cater to your needs. Then, send a request for a quote or give them a call, and get started.

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