The Benefits of Vacuum Metalizing
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) disrupts device function. One shielding application to prevent EMI is vacuum metalization. The vacuum metalizing process involves treating a substrate, vaporizing a metal, and depositing it onto the surface. There are marked benefits to vacuum metalizing—read on to learn what they are and why vacuum metalizing is an innovative solution for your EMI shielding needs.
Vacuum Metalizing Is Safe and Environmentally Friendly
First, the benefits of vacuum metalizing include its safety and environmental-friendliness. Particularly when considering electroless plating and chemical-based coating in general, vacuum metalization has safety and environmental advantages. Specifically, it doesn’t give off harmful chemical fumes like electroless plating does, preserving the health of the workers while not subjecting the surrounding environment to emitted chemicals. In fact, the vacuum metalization process takes place within an enclosed space that prevents vaporized metals from reaching the outside, essentially eliminating potential health and environmental risks.
It Ensures Conductivity and EMI Shielding
Vacuum-metalized surfaces are also highly conductive and effective at shielding EMI. Vacuum-metalized devices can attenuate incoming frequencies so they don’t impact function and are a great option for several different kinds of surfaces, plastics being one notable example. Based on the metals you choose for your EMI attenuation, this shield is also quite corrosion- and rust-resistant wherever you apply it, so you can expect your metalized devices to limit electromagnetic interference for years without issue.
It Is Cost-Effective
For several reasons, vacuum metalization is also cost-effective relative to other shielding techniques. While vaporizing metal and depositing it onto a surface sounds complex, it’s a streamlined option relative to electroless plating, for example. Electroless plating involves etching a substrate with acid and then catalyzing a substance onto the surface. The precise reactions and conditions required for electroless plating make this option less cost-effective, and more intrusive to the substrate, than vacuum metalizing, which less intrusively applies a conductive metalized layer to the substrate.
If you have more questions about the benefits of vacuum metalizing, contact our knowledgeable team at Deep Coat Industries. We’re happy to advise you on effectively protecting your devices from EMI and draw from decades of experience to do so.
Electromagnetic interference, or EMI, disrupts devices’ sensitive internal mechanisms and prevents them from functioning properly. Electronics need complete shielding to protect them from EMI, but you may wonder where EMI comes from in the first place. Read our brief guide to the three main causes of electromagnetic interference for more clarity on the subject.
Natural EMI
Many people think of other devices as the principle sources of EMI, but natural phenomena around us can emit EMI in several ways. Precipitation such as a rainstorm or snowstorm carries electrical static. When vehicles and other electronics encounter this, they build up a charge and emit EMI.
Beyond our world, stars and other nearby celestial bodies also emit natural EMI. Significant levels of solar radiation strike occasionally, while larger planets such as Jupiter emit appreciable EMI when they approach Earth. Many modern devices maintain their functionality when natural EMI is high, but this does impair older devices somewhat. Overall, engineers don’t implement device shielding to mitigate natural EMI because it isn’t a significant threat.
Human-Made EMI
The second type of EMI is human-made in the sense that manufactured devices and large-scale electrical systems emit interference. This encompasses every electronic assembly, from power lines to handheld devices. Any time these electronic assembly signals meet each other at the same frequency, they disrupt each other, depending on their relative strength. This is the major form of electromagnetic interference that shielding techniques such as vacuum metalizing limit. Because human-made EMI poses such a threat, some militaries intentionally weaponize it to inhibit enemy electronics. Luckily, EMI shielding provides a viable option to prevent human-made EMI from affecting your devices.
Inherent EMI
The last of the three main causes of electromagnetic interference is inherent EMI. Inherent EMI is more difficult to remedy because it originates from the device itself. Essentially, devices’ internal electrical systems interact with other internal features, even within a shield or conductive coating.
If you need help limiting the effects of either human-made EMI or inherent EMI, consider contacting us at Deep Coat to help protect your electronics. We offer exceptional EMI coating services on both electronic assembly housings and PCB shields, which are backed by our team’s years of specialized knowledge and flexibility.
Limiting emitted electromagnetic frequencies is the principal goal of EMI shielding. To test the degree to which shields block EMI, you can run one of several tests that measure devices’ attenuation, or reduction in EMI intensity. If you would like to learn more about how to measure EMI shielding effectiveness, read our guide to four prominent tests.
Open Field Test
A device’s electromagnetic interference emission affects other devices when they interact in natural, everyday conditions. For this reason, it’s often wise to test completed devices’ EMI emission without taking too many variables away. This way, you get a better picture of how the device will function during regular use. Also called the free space test, the open field test involves using testing equipment in an open area without other electrical devices nearby. Testers place antennae at varying distances to measure EMI emission at several different points.
Shielded Box Test
Another method for measuring EMI shielding effectiveness is the shielded box test. This is useful for determining the effectiveness of potential shielding materials. True to its name, this test involves an almost-completely sealed box that blocks external EMI. There is one opening for users to insert shielding materials. To determine the material’s overall effectiveness, the equipment measures the difference between internal and external EMI. More effective material prevents EMI from reaching the shielded box’s interior. At Deep Coat Industries, we conduct rigorous testing to ensure our EMI shielding solutions are as effective as possible.
Coaxial Transmission Line Test
One drawback to a shielded box test is making sure the material introduced contacts the box opening so measurements are accurate between trials and different labs. Coaxial transmission line tests don’t allow for these inaccuracies. This method involves a diamond-shaped structure in which a tester places a sample EMI shielding material. The equipment measures EMI levels at several different frequencies, which is a unique feature among the various test options. Testers then compare EMI measurements to a control to determine material effectiveness.
Shielded Room Test
The shielded room test is a particularly comprehensive iteration of the shielded box method. The most important feature of the shielded room test is the elimination of potential measurement device interference by positioning measuring devices in a separate room from the tested material. This increases the reliability of results when compared with the shielded box method.
If you want to ensure that you shield your devices appropriately, consider utilizing Deep Coat’s vacuum metalizing services. We back our customizable vacuum metalization methods with our considerable team-wide knowledge and experience. Contact us if you have specific questions about how vacuum metalization can shield your product.
Electromagnetic radiation threatens device function because it impairs the device’s ability to transmit signals without surrounding electronic interference disrupting them. With the proliferation of devices comes more potential for electromagnetic interference, or EMI. It is important to prevent EMI in commercial devices, but the need to protect military devices is paramount. Electronic warfare is a feature of modern war-making, and while this method is less visible than others, its effects are far-reaching. If military signals become damaged through EMI, that can translate to lives lost, missions squandered, and even diplomatic upheaval. Here is how EMI Shielding helps the military and protects devices, ranging from tanks to drones.
Communication Channels Stay Open
EMI shielding is a vital part of keeping the military’s lines of communication open. As devices evolve, their frequencies trended upward; this means that the risk of interference increases. To address the risk of interference, military networks must be isolated from both foreign militaries’ and civilians’ networks through EMI shielding and other supplemental methods. This benefits the team by keeping unwanted recipients of their communications out while protecting the integrity of their signals for their team. This allows soldiers to trust the intel they receive, speeds up their processes by eliminating jammed signals, and prevents enemies from leveraging this intel against them or other non-participant parties.
Complex Electronics Maintain Function
Communication is important, but EMI shielding also helps military devices function outside of their communication-based uses. Tanks and other large vehicles seem impregnable, but EMI that gets through some weak facet can disrupt their internal components, impairing overall function. Smaller devices such as drones, which allow for so many operations to be undertaken from afar, can also be hindered by EMI. Interference impacts more than just gear and vehicles—EMI can even inhibit large-scale industrial control panels.
This is why a barrier created specifically with an EMI shielding coating of metal coupled with appropriate enclosures is so necessary for military use. This method affords a consistent layering of EMI-resistant material that prevents miscommunication and malfunction, and doing so saves soldier and civilian lives.
In today’s environment, the rapid increase in demand for electricity and technological availability leads to the development of more power lines and computer advancements every day. As a result, more pollution is being pumped into the environment, causing a litany of concerns among the general population. One question people often raise is whether or not electromagnetic interference has a negative impact on our health. After all, if it can harm our technology, should it not impact human biology as well?
Fact or Fiction?
Rumors suggesting that EMI leads to serious health effects such as tumors and cancer abound. Many people who fear this take precautions by placing their phones further away from them at night or banning certain electronics from their homes. But is there any truth to this? Unfortunately, we’re unable to give a definitive answer today. Experts don’t yet have the ability to confirm or deny the link between EMI and diseases such as cancer. Researches may have yet to prove direct biological effects, but EMI may still impact our overall health in several ways.
Hospital Equipment
One of the most prevalent dangers of EMI is the harm it can cause to health care equipment. The electromagnetic waves that radiate from our cell phones can easily interfere with medical equipment, and if this equipment stops working as a result, the consequences can be fatal. Outside the hospital, EMI is said to negatively interact with pacemakers. Whereas hospital signs warn us against using our cell phones on the premises, we can never be aware of what medical devices individuals may be using outside of hospital settings.
Free Radicals
People continue to debate the many medical worries associated with EMI, but many studies discuss the effects of electromagnetic fields on free radicals. Essentially, some of these studies argue that prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields can increase the amount of free radicals in our systems and cause oxidative stress, which can have a negative effect on the body’s cells and proteins. Oxidative stress is known to cause ailments such as memory loss and joint pain.
The Solution
With every potential danger comes the need for a solution. In the case of electromagnetic interference, this solution comes in the form of EMI shielding. Processes such as vacuum metalizing services put many worries at ease, allowing us to go about our lives with the comfort of protected technology. If you’d like to learn more about what vacuum metalizing is, we give a comprehensive overview of the process on our website.
There are several aspects involved in preventing devices’ electromagnetic wave interference (EMI). When looking into different EMI shielding process types for conventional EMI Shielding, enclosure configuration and the material used are two important considerations.
Enclosure Configuration
Blocking EMI first depends on if and how you enclose your device. To prevent EMI, you must choose an optimal configuration for your specific device. Of the EMI shielding process types, one simple and effective option is Volumetric Shielding (or Faraday Cage). This is a six-sided box that entirely encompasses your device and effectively prevents EMI but doesn’t allow very much airflow. Perfect for military-grade devices that need to be impenetrable, Faraday Cages are difficult to implement in modern devices with branching inputs and outputs that also need shielding. You can shield more locally by covering the circuit board, and you can even choose stick-on sheets to isolate very specific or hard to reach areas of your device.
Metals
The material your enclosure consists of is a secondary consideration because the materials’ properties determine your costs, flexibility during construction, and the ability to limit interference. Copper, aluminum, steel, and nickel are relatively heavy and costly materials that are conductive and effective at blocking EMI. Copper is an expensive yet particularly malleable option that fits many uses.
Plastics
Recent innovations in EMI shielding process types have allowed professionals to use plastics instead of metals because they’re cheaper, quicker to manufacture, easily shaped, and lighter than metals. To ensure they are as capable of limiting device EMI, they need to have a conductive layer applied. Two important processes for conventional EMI shielding are vacuum metalization and electroless plating. When vacuum metalizing plastic, a metal vaporizes and deposits onto a pre-treated plastic, onto which it condenses and forms a thin metallic layer. In electroless plating, on the other hand, experts typically immerse the plastic in a nickel or copper ion solution to form a conductive metallic bond.
The rapid advancements made in electronic technologies over the last ten years has created the need for dozens of industries to keep up the pace. The congestion of these electronic devices causes worry for many professionals in terms of the radiation they produce. As we outlined before, EMI shielding is necessary to ease these worries. To stay on top of the changing times, shielding technologies are constantly advancing. Below are two industries that are seeing a change in the use of EMI shielding.
Automotive
User convenience is necessary for modern vehicles, and there’s a demand for the implementation of appropriate electronic devices into car designs. Whereas companies worried about interference in radios before, we now have GPS, Bluetooth, and touch screen devices to consider as well. EMI shielding is now more difficult due to us owning these devices. Additionally, we lose some shielding due to the shift made in the materials used to create cars. Many cars today consist of materials other than metal, causing even more of a need to implement EMI shielding early in the development phase.
Spacecraft
There are a few different ways in which EMI shielding positively impacts modern spacecraft. These shields protect spacecraft from radiation and factors such as thermal, mechanical, and radioactive disturbances. As of late, many noticed a change regarding the materials used to create shields for spacecraft. Before, a lot of EMI shields consisted of aluminum alloys, which were heavier than what many professionals consider to be the ideal weight. Today, many shields come from intercalated graphite fiber composites. This breakthrough may decrease the mass of the shields by up to 80%.
Companies Must Stay Current
It’s incredibly important that companies make the appropriate changes to keep EMI shielding applications current. They need to carry out the design processes to the finest detail to ensure the perfect outcome. Deep Coat Industries remains at the top of our game with our highly acclaimed vacuum metalizing services. If you’d like to know more about how we can serve you, please contact us today.
It’s well-known that EMI shielding provides numerous applications in the healthcare, military, and data center industries. One subject that isn’t always mentioned, however, is the importance of EMI shielding in the cellular devices that we use daily. So, let’s repeat the question, how do cell phone radiation shields work?
Easing Fears
There has been much talk over the years surrounding the radiation exposed to us through cell phones. There have been whisperings about headaches, insomnia, and even cancer due to the radiation. While there are no confirmed studies linking cell phone signals to health problems, our cell phones emit signals daily, even when they’re in sleep mode. Fortunately, there are a few ways in which we can continue to reduce the impact of cell phone radiation on other device’s. For example, what many don’t know is that 4G services provide far less interference than 2G and 3G once did.
Technology Progresses
Another factor that can ease some of our fears is the growing prevalence of EMI shielding. This protection is integrated in the very earliest stages of mobile developments. The circuit boards inside our phones are coated or covered with fine layers of metals. If needed, these metals can create several minuscule layers of protection. Deep Coat’s vacuum metalization process atomizes these metals and deposits them onto shields that block components from emitting radiation.
The experts that develop EMI shielding must keep up with constantly evolving technology. As developers become more efficient in creating the designs of our personal devices, our phones become smaller and smaller. As such, anyone involved in the application process of these devices must be able to adjust with modern technology’s evolution.
The Right Professionals
The creation of shielding devices is an incredibly involved process, and it requires professionals that are knowledgeable in the industry. The experts at Deep Coat Industries are experienced in working with large companies that have specialized requirements. Still wondering, “how do cell phone radiation shields work?” If you want to know more about these specialty services, such as decorative EMI coating, explore our website and contact us with any other questions you may have. The experts at Deep Coat Industries are waiting for your call.
As we see more and more technological advancements take root in our culture, we must also recognize the risks involved. Overcrowded data centers, which store an abundance of technological equipment, are extremely susceptible to such risks. These centers house servers that companies use to access all their data. Data centers are buzzing with various signals that essentially push each other around and compete for attention. This interaction between signals can decrease the quality of electronic devices, which is why EMI shielding is essential in data centers.
What Can Go Wrong
Data centers have to stay current regarding software and any technological advancements. With this in mind, it’s essential professionals integrate EMI shielding into any blueprints. But why exactly is this so important?
When you pack a data center full of equipment, such as power lines and UPS systems, this creates a nesting ground for unwelcome interference. Enter EMI—electromagnetic interference. EMI interacts with data centers as a result of extremely high levels of radiation. The irritation caused by this interruption can worsen if the data center is near technologically busy areas, such as airports.
The effects of EMI can be drastic. When it occurs, you may notice shaky monitor screens or system failures. At times, the interferences can be so bad that information gets scrambled and hard disks can become completely wiped. Additionally, some people use EMI to their advantage. They take it as an opportunity to intentionally mess with signals without having to take a step inside of a data center.
Don’t Neglect Protection
No one can stress enough how important data center EMI shielding is. Techniques such as vacuum metallization coat these products and protect important data from any unwelcome encounters. Imagine the floor of an apartment building with absolutely no walls—everyone’s furniture is set within invisible boundary lines, but unwelcome interactions with their neighbors will still occur. Everyone’s music and favorite TV shows will compete with each other, and the scents of everyone’s dinners will create a less than desirable smell. When you add the walls in, everything becomes contained and life can carry on as intended.
Equipment in a data center is like individuals in an apartment complex, and the EMI shields are the walls. It allows all these figurative residents to carry along without worry. Without these walls, harmony would be near impossible.
Ultimately, EMI shielding is the solution required amongst the bustle of today’s technological world. For those with pieces that need special EMI shielding coating applications, Deep Coat Industries can help. We will customize your plans to the very last detail—contact us today.
Technology is advancing so rapidly in today’s world that we hardly blink at each new update that rolls out. The world isn’t like it was in 1975, the year Microsoft was born and immediately changed the entire world. Instead, the changes are now more subtle, with pop-ups that urge us weekly to restart our devices so that they can be fully equipped with the latest and greatest updates.
Growth in the Health Care Industry
The health care industry, in particular, will always demand change, and as such, the natural progression of tools and techniques continues on. From leeches to mercury thermometers to artificial wombs, the industry has steadily transformed over the last couple millennia.
As we find ways to more efficiently treat various ailments, we learn that even the most groundbreaking advancements come with their own drawbacks. One aspect that scientists are still trying to refine is the effect of electromagnetic interference—or EMI. These signals crowd the air, causing potentially dangerous interactions with medical devices.
Why EMI Happens
Imagine that you’re at a wedding reception with 200 other people, each of whom has a cell phone. These phones all need signals to work, and with so many signals in the air, the devices could run the risk of pulling signals from the wrong places. So why doesn’t this happen? Put simply, shielding mechanisms are implemented into the initial designs of our phones in order to prevent this interference. At a wedding reception, this interference is inconvenient—in a medical setting, it’s dangerous.
There was a time when phones did pose a threat to hospitals. Visitors were urged to keep their phones turned off in order to prevent interference with important equipment. Due to the adjustments developers have made to cellular technology, this is no longer a common worry.
Modern Medical Equipment Requires Modern Protection
Our cell phones may not threaten medical equipment any longer, but other electronic devices can still present dangers to medical devices—something Bernard Segal, a member of the McGill University Biomedical Engineering Group, first noted back in 1996.
This potential danger comes as a result of more recent advancements. In an effort to improve medical equipment and make it both lighter and more space-efficient, some devices have been designed with light plastic coatings. While convenient, these coatings aren’t enough to keep wayward signals in check.
In order to comply with federal regulations, some sort of effective protection must be put in place. Through methods such as vacuum metalizing, lightweight metal shields are created and used as casing for these devices. This seemingly innocuous design is what allows this equipment to remain lightweight, convenient, and functional without interfering with other pieces of equipment.
Companies such as Deep Coat Industries work to allow advancements in medical care to progress at the rate that they do. While the creators of medical equipment work to protect us, shielding companies work to protect the equipment. It’s their hard work and careful designs that allow the health care industry to advance as quickly as it does today.