Long Term Shielding Effectiveness
Shielding must provide a reliable electrical contact over wide deflection ranges while withstanding multiple mechanical flexures. While high strength copper alloys promise to hold closely to original performance specifications, certain considerations must be given to assure continued effectiveness.
Even though installation and mounting are quite simple, some design geometry's must be properly oriented to the direction of contact engagement to prevent undue stress and possible damage. This is covered in detail under INSTALLATION GUIDELINES.
From top to bottom: Bright Finish gasket, Bright Tin plated gasket, Enviroseal gasket.
The designer should also consider the effects of galvanic corrosion when there is a dissimilar metals situation between the shield and the surfaces it comes in contact with. Long-term shielding effectiveness without degradation can be assured if proper steps are taken to prevent it. The three most common types of corrosion effects at the point of electrical bond are: (1) oxidation of metal surfaces, (2) galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals, and (3) acidic corrosion during assembly; i.e., solder fluxes. To avoid degradation use as many of the following guidelines as possible.
- A.) Use the most suitable high strength corrosion resistant material in the gasket itself;
- B.) Provide corrosion protection for the metal gasket. See plating alternatives below.
- C.) Avoid dissimilar metals in contact. See galvanic compatibility chart below.
- D.) Use combination environmental/RFI gaskets where practical; especially when designs dictate dissimilar metals in close proximity. See Enviroseal in photo at left.
| Surface Resistance of Common Materials | |||
| Metal | Inital | Resistance After 400 Hours Humidity | (Millions) After 1000 Hours Humidity |
| Aluminum, Untreated | |||
| 2024, Bare | 0.11 | 9.6 | 30.0 |
| 2024, Clad | 1.30 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 6061, Bare | 0.02 | 7.0 | 13.0 |
| Beryllium Copper | |||
| Untreated | 0.05 | 1.9 | 8.1 |
| Cadmium Plated | 0.02 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
| Silver Plated | 0.10 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Tin Plated | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Steel | |||
| Untreated | 10.1 | Rusted | - |
| Cadmium Plated | 1.8 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| Silver Plated | 0.06 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Tin Plated | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
- Installation Guidelines 1
- Installation Guidelines 2
- Product Highlight: Clip On Series
- Product Highlight: Symmetrical Series
- Metals Galvanic Compatibility Chart
- Product Highlight: Symmetrical Multi Mount Series
- Material Highlight: ASTM B740 Alloy C72650
- Material Highlight: ASTM B194 Alloy C17200
- Product Highlight: Multifunctional Straight Contact Series
- Lock In Slot "Button" Contacts
- Product Highlight: Multifunctional Spherical Contact Series
- Product Highlight: Miniature Clip On Series
- Product Highlight: Very Low Profile Clip On Shielding Gaskets
- Product Highlight: Miniature & Sub Miniature Shielding Products
- Product Highlight: Low Profile Clip On Series
- Product Highlight: Segmented Clip On Series
- Product Highlight: Multi Purpose Low Force Clip On Series
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