“Teaching” Plastic to Shield

The Main Thing: Conductivity

FST is pursuing different approaches for every range of frequencies – whether kilohertz, megahertz or gigahertz. “We can add fillers to make the plastic electrically conductive. Or we can provide a conventional plastic with a conductive, polymer-based coating, using a process much like painting,” said Jens Hofmann, Application Specialist, Automotive Sales. Sigrid Hasenbank, Key Account, ZF Automotive Sales, adds: “Another possibility involves insert parts, for example, metal-coated nonwovens or thin metal foils that we encapsulate in plastic.” In a nutshell, EMI is offering FST opportunities to be innovative and shape the future proactively.

Highest Use

Plastic is not just lighter than aluminum. It opens up new opportunities in design. Its highest use is in multicomponent parts that take on added functions – ranging from the containment and shielding of electromagnetic interference, to mechanical protections against dirt, moisture and stone impacts. One example is when a seal is directly molded-on, as a “shield & seal” rolled into one, so to speak. This kind of doubly protective function combined in a single component saves the automaker assembly steps. Quality also improves when the seal and housing form a robust chemical bond from the outset.

FST prototypes have already demonstrated their suitability for these applications in a range of different projects, feasibility studies and load tests. This is nurturing hopes that the first series-production order is getting closer. For those with a deeper interest in the technology: The project manager for EMI Shielding is Volker Schroiff , Head of Technology Management.