Fabric-Over-Foam
High-Performance Fabric-Over-Foam Gaskets for EMI Shielding
Speak With An EngineerWhat Are Fabric-Over-Foam Gaskets?
Fabric-over-foam gaskets are specialized components designed to provide effective EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding, grounding, and environmental sealing in electronic assemblies. These gaskets consist of a soft foam core wrapped in a conductive fabric, creating a compressible and highly conductive barrier between components. Often referred to as conductive fabric over foam or EMI fabric gaskets, they prevent electromagnetic interference from disrupting sensitive electronics while also offering mechanical cushioning and protection against dust, moisture, and other environmental factors. This technology works by combining the resilience of open- or closed-cell foam with a metalized fabric that allows for excellent surface conductivity.
When compressed between mating surfaces, fabric-over-foam gaskets maintains consistent contact and electrical continuity—even in challenging environments. Their benefits include flexible design options for complex shapes and tight tolerances, excellent attenuation, which reduces EMI concerns, and long-term durability under repeated compression. These properties make them ideal for applications in telecommunications equipment, medical devices, automotive electronics, and aerospace systems, where both performance and compliance with electromagnetic standards are critical.
Types of Fabric-Over-Foam Solutions
Conductive Fabric Gaskets
Essential for preventing electromagnetic interference in sensitive devices across industries like telecom, medical, automotive, and aerospace
EMI Fabric Gaskets
Provides effective shielding while maintaining electrical grounding between components, ensuring device performance and compliance
Custom Fabric-Over-Foam
Delivers tailored EMI shielding and grounding solutions that conform to complex designs, ensuring reliable performance, environmental sealing, and long-term durability
Industries & Applications
Fabric-over-foam gaskets play a crucial role in protecting electronic devices from electromagnetic interference while providing environmental sealing. Their combination of lightweight construction, flexibility, and reliable conductivity makes them ideal for a wide range of demanding applications across various industries.
- Telecommunications & Data Centers - Reduce signal interference in networking equipment, servers, and communication devices.
- Automotive & Aerospace - Provide lightweight EMI shielding solutions that meet strict durability and weight requirements for electronic control units and avionics.
- Medical Devices & Consumer Electronics - Ensure electromagnetic compatibility and protection in sensitive equipment such as diagnostic tools, wearable devices, and portable electronics.
Why Choose Our Fabric-Over-Foam Solutions?
PGC’s fabric-over-foam EMI gaskets deliver exceptional durability, combining a resilient foam core with a tough, conductive fabric outer layer that withstands repeated compression and environmental wear. This robust construction ensures long-lasting performance, even in the most demanding applications. Our gaskets offer superior shielding effectiveness by providing reliable levels of shielding attenuation through continuous conductive pathways that block and dissipate unwanted signals. Additionally, the flexible nature of the foam core allows for easy conformability to complex surfaces and varied gasket profiles, ensuring a precise fit and consistent shielding across diverse applications. This blend of durability, high shielding performance, and material flexibility make PGC’s fabric-over-foam EMI gaskets an ideal solution for safeguarding sensitive electronics in industries ranging from aerospace to telecommunications.
Contact PGC today to discuss how our fabric-over-foam EMI gaskets can enhance your product’s performance and reliability.
FAQ's
What is fabric-over-foam used for in EMI shielding?
Fabric-over-foam in EMI shielding is used to provide a durable, flexible gasket that effectively blocks electromagnetic interference by combining a conductive fabric outer layer with a compressible foam core for a tight, reliable seal around electronic components.
How effective are fabric-over-foam gaskets compared to metal shielding?
Fabric-over-foam gaskets provide effective EMI shielding with greater flexibility, lighter weight, and improved compression properties compared to metal shielding. However, metal typically provides higher overall conductivity and stronger shielding in highly demanding environments.
What industries commonly use conductive fabric gaskets?
Conductive fabric gaskets are commonly used in telecommunications, medical devices, automotive electronics, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries.
How are fabric-over-foam gaskets installed?
Fabric-over-foam gaskets are typically installed by compressing them between mating surfaces or within grooves to create a secure, conductive seal for EMI shielding and environmental protection.