Conductive rubber is a high-performance material that combines conductive properties with sealing functions.
It achieves electromagnetic shielding and conductivity by uniformly dispersing conductive particles (such as nickel-plated silver, aluminum-plated silver, graphite-plated nickel, etc.) within different rubber material.
Performance and Features
- Conductivity and Electromagnetic Shielding
- Conductive particles form conductive paths under pressure, achieving a low volume resistivity of 104 Ω·cm.
- Excellent electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, reaching 120 dB (10 GHz).
- High stability and resistance to environmental changes, making it suitable for harsh conditions. Rubber material can be chosen according to different working enviroment.
- Material Categories
OBT offers various conductive rubber formulations to meet different application requirements:- CONSIL-NC: Graphite-nickel-plated silicone rubber.
- CONSIL-V: Silver-filled silicone rubber extruded gasket.
- CONSIL-A: Aluminum-silver-plated silicone rubber.
- CONSIL-N: Nickel-silver-plated silicone rubber.
- CONSIL-C: Copper-silver-plated silicone rubber.
- SC-CONSIL: Graphite-filled silicone rubber.
- CONSIL-R: Pure silver-filled silicone rubber.
- CONSIL-II: Molded silver-filled silicone rubber gaskets.
Silicone rubber is an excellent material for manufacturing conductive rubber products. It not only possesses conductive properties but also demonstrates high and low-temperature resistance, aging resistance, and good processing performance. These characteristics make it suitable for producing complex-shaped and finely-structured conductive rubber products.
When used in electrical connectors, silicone rubber can tightly adhere to contact surfaces, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Its elasticity also provides vibration damping and sealing effects.
However, the selection of conductive rubber should consider the specific conditions. For instance, when used in environments involving contact with oil, it is better to opt for oil-resistant rubbers such as nitrile rubber (NBR), fluorocarbon rubber (FKM), or hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR). These materials provide better durability and reliability under such conditions.
Electromagnetic Shielding Principles
- Free Electron Shielding Effect
Conductive particles form a continuous state of free electrons. When external electromagnetic waves reach the surface of conductive rubber, the free electrons move, generating an electromagnetic field opposite to the external wave, effectively canceling the interference. - Energy Conversion Effect
When electromagnetic waves act on free electrons, part of the energy is converted into heat due to the resistance of conductive particles, further reducing electromagnetic interference.
Key Applications
- Sealing and Electromagnetic Shielding
Widely used in aerospace, aviation, and electronic equipment industries, particularly in high-shielding scenarios:- Small and medium-sized electronic enclosures and cabinets.
- Waveguides and connector gaskets.
- Microwave waveguide systems and electronic compartments.
- Product Forms
- Molded Conductive Rubber: Available as sheets, molded products, and die-cut planar gaskets.
- Extruded Conductive Rubber: Produced in cross-sectional shapes like rectangular, round, “D,” “U,” “P,” and other hollow structures. Custom profiles can also be manufactured upon request.
- Medical Applications
Conductive rubber is widely used in medical electrodes due to its thin-film design (≤1 mm), ensuring reliable conductivity with minimal thickness.
Assembly Recommendations
When assembly conductive rubber, proper compression is crucial to ensure optimal performance:
- Sheets and flat gaskets: Recommended compression is about 10%.
- O-rings and round profiles: Recommended compression is 15%-20%.
- Hollow products: Recommended compression is 20%-35%, depending on the product design.
Please contact OBT for your conductive rubber products application. These materials meet requirements for sealing and electromagnetic shielding in specialized industries such as aerospace, aviation, and electronic devices.
