EMI (electromagnetic interference) shields are the coatings or the products that reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference from or to electronic equipment and appliances. Some of the different products that help you in achieving EMI shielding are adhesives, coatings, paints and gaskets.

Rubber, metal, plastic and composite materials are some of the materials that you can use to form EMI shields. The EMI shields protect telecommunication equipment and hardware, medical equipment and scientific equipment.

Some important parameters you must consider before you select EMI shields are:

1. The type of frequency (high or low) that requires to be blocked by EMI shielding materials
2. The material that will act as electromagnetic interference shield
3. The size, shape, quantity and availability of tested material

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy EMI shielding materials from reliable EMI shielding materials manufacturers

Once you understand your requirements regarding electromagnetic interference shielding materials, then you can go to a specific EMI shielding material manufacturer to buy the relevant product.

I recommend: You can buy EMI shielding laminates of metal foil and dielectric film at PressCut Industries, a manufacturer of standard and custom EMI shielding materials. If you plan to make your own EMI shields then you can go to The MuShield Company, a custom manufacturer of EMI shielding materials. National Power and Signal is a manufacturer that sells electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive material that is soft and can be die cut to any type.

Buy EMI shielding product from reliable EMI shielding product distributors

You can buy different types of EMI shielding product like EMI shielding tape, EMI shielding gasket and EMI shielding foam from various EMI shielding product suppliers that provide these products at attractive prices.

I recommend: You can buy different types of EMI shielding gaskets, oriented wire gaskets and wire mesh gaskets at Leader Tech, a manufacturer of standard and custom board EMI shield, beryllium copper EMI gasket and advanced RF absorber materials. Tech-Etch is a manufacturer that sells different types of EMI gaskets, conductive foam wire mesh, tapes and filters. You can also buy EMI shielding products like shielded windows and enhancement filters, EMI shielded vents and EMI gaskets at United Seal & Rubber, a distributor of various types of EMI shielding products.

Evaluate the quality of EMI shielding through EMI shields testing laboratories

For testing the quality and the accuracy of EMI shielding, which is very important for the proper functioning of your electric appliance, go to various testing laboratories.

I recommend: Criteria Labs is a test facility that offers testing facilities for failure analysis, EMI shielding and standards testing of the component. You can also evaluate and test your EMI shielding product at D.L.S. Electronic Systems, a company that provides testing of shielding effectiveness for a variety of EMI shielding products. Pulver Laboratories is a consulting and testing laboratory that conducts various types of EMI RFI shielding tests.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Evaluate the EMI shielding of the electric appliance before beginning the production, as this will help in the elimination of faults, if any.
• •  EMI shields testing is the pre-qualification to get an approval on the safety and quality standards by various reputable agencies such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC).