Conductive Elastomers, Conductive Foams, and Ferrite Absorbers
EMI/RFI Shielding Materials
EMI/RFI shielding materials block or absorb electromagnetic interference to protect sensitive electronics and meet regulatory emission limits. We stock conductive elastomer sheets, conductive foam gaskets, and ferrite noise absorbers for enclosure sealing, cable management, and board-level suppression across defence, telecommunications, medical, and industrial applications.
At a Glance
Temperature Range
-55 °C to +160 °C continuous (silicone-based conductive elastomer); fluorosilicone grades to +200 °C; conductive PU foam grades typically -40 °C to +70 °C
Thickness Range
0.1 mm to 6.0 mm
Available Forms
Colours
Technical Properties
Typical values across stocked grades. Specific grade data sheets available on request.
Physical Characteristics
Density
1.3–4.0 g/cm³ (elastomer); 0.15–0.5 g/cm³ (foam)
Compression Set
10–30% (elastomer grades)
Dielectric Strength
N/A: these materials are intentionally conductive or absorptive
Chemical Resistance
Resistant To
- Moisture and humidity
- Most common electronics cleaning agents
- Mild acids and alkalis
- UV exposure (silicone-based grades)
Limited Resistance
- Prolonged solvent immersion (depends on base elastomer)
- Salt spray (non-nickel-filled grades)
Not Recommended
- Strong oxidising acids
- Aggressive industrial solvents without compatibility verification
- Continuous submersion in fuel or oil (unless specifically rated)
Environmental Ratings
Flame Rating
UL 94 V-0 or HB (grade dependent)
Weather Resistance
Good to excellent, with silicone-based conductive elastomers offering strong UV and ozone resistance; foam grades vary
Standards & Certifications
Standards Compliance
Certifications
Common Applications
- Electronic enclosure door and panel gaskets
- Telecommunications base station shielding
- Military and defence electronics (MIL-DTL-83528J)
- Medical device enclosures (MR-conditional grades available — verify against ASTM F2503; ferromagnetic-filler grades are NOT MR Safe)
- Automotive radar and sensor module housings
- Data centre cabinet-to-cabinet isolation
- Cable entry and connector backshell sealing
- PCB-level noise suppression (ferrite sheets)
Not Recommended For
- Conductive elastomer sheets require metal-to-gasket contact on both mating surfaces for effective shielding; painted or anodised flanges must be masked at the gasket interface
- Conductive foam has lower shielding effectiveness than solid elastomer — typically suited to commercial rather than military-grade applications
- Ferrite absorbers reduce radiated emissions but do not provide reflection-based shielding, and are most effective at specific frequency bands determined by their composition
- Silver-filled grades offer the highest conductivity but are significantly more expensive than nickel/carbon alternatives
- Shielding effectiveness values are measured under controlled laboratory conditions. Actual installed performance depends on enclosure design, joint geometry, and gasket compression
Available Grades
Electrically Conductive Elastomer Sheet (MIL-DTL-83528J Type A/B/D/E)
Silicone or fluorosilicone elastomer filled with silver-plated aluminium (Type A), silver-plated copper (Type C), nickel-graphite, or pure silver particles to provide volume resistivity below 0.01 Ω·cm. Delivers >80 dB shielding effectiveness at up to 10 GHz under MIL-DTL-83528J plane-wave testing (Type A Ag-Cu rates 110 dB at 10 GHz). The primary choice for military, aerospace, and high-performance commercial enclosure gaskets.
Electrically Conductive Foam Sheet
Polyurethane foam wrapped in nickel-on-copper plated fabric, or silicone foam with conductive particle loading. Lightweight, highly compressible, and effective at 40–80 dB across a broad frequency range. Used in commercial electronics enclosures where low closure force and easy installation are priorities.
Ferrite Sheet (Noise Absorber)
Flexible polymer sheet loaded with ferrite powder that converts electromagnetic energy to heat rather than reflecting it. Effective for near-field noise suppression in the 30 MHz – 3 GHz range (effective frequency depends on ferrite chemistry — Mn-Zn for lower bands, Ni-Zn for higher). Applied directly to PCBs, cables, or enclosure walls to reduce radiated emissions and internal cavity resonance.
Related Resources
Related Materials
Need EMI/RFI Shielding Materials?
We supply emi/rfi shielding materials in sheet, roll, and custom die-cut forms. Contact our team for pricing, data sheets, or technical assistance.
Disclaimer
This resource is provided for general engineering reference only and does not constitute professional advice, specification, or guarantee of performance. Actual results depend on specific application conditions. Universal Gaskets Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for decisions made based on this information. For full terms, see our Terms & Conditions.