Mats and fabrics for electromagnetic interference shielding

Fabrics (with continuous electrically conductive fibers) are more effective than mats (with discontinuous conductive fibers) for electromagnetic interference shielding. Conductive fibers in the form of metal-coated polymer fibers or metal-coated carbon fibers are more effective than those in the form of bare carbon fibers. The highest shielding effectiveness of 53 dB at 1.0 GHz was attained by a metal-coated polymer fabric. The shielding is due mainly to reflection. A higher shielding effectiveness correlates with a higher reflectivity and a lower electrical resistivity. Both shielding effectiveness and reflectivity decrease with increasing frequency from 300 kHz to 1.5 GHz. The shielding effectiveness increases with thickness, as shown for bare carbon fiber mats. A nickel-coated carbon fiber mat of areal weight 9 g/m(2) is similar to a bare carbon fiber mat of areal weight 17 g/m(2) in shielding effectiveness.