Dual elastomer EMI shielding gasket
Vanguard Products

The challenge for the RFI/EMI industry has been to create a highly conductive shielding gasket that maintains its mechanical integrity long-term. Dual Elastomer ULTRA-VANSHIELD® is definitively the unique solution to this problem. Each style incorporates design features not commonly found in other forms of shielding gaskets. Some of the more important advantages to consider are:
- Continuously extruded high-strength silicone rubber core
- Co-extruded highly conductive metal- filled silicone outer layer
- Extremely high shielding effectiveness
- Environmental sealing
- No compression set
- Low compression force
- Extreme environment and abrasion-resistant options
- Simple installation options

Silver-filled elastomers have long been used for shielding against electromagnetic interference and radio frequency signals. Silver was chosen since it is an excellent conductor and is one of the few materials that can be put into a rubber matrix while retaining its conductivity.

However, standard silver-filled elastomers have intrinsic problems. Typically, the percentage of silver in the elastomer is extraordinarily high – as much as 70% by weight. At these concentrations, the elastomer matrix loses most of its desirable physical attributes.

The result is neither the desired metallic nor elastomeric properties, but rather a compromise between both. For this reason, conventional silver-filled elastomers have poor physical properties; i.e. low tear resistance and tensile strength along with inordinately high compression forces.