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Nickel Conductive Paints

In addition to EMI / RFI shielding, nickel is also ferromagnetic and shields the magnetic component. It is smooth, hard, and abrasion resistant, and provides strong corrosion resistance – suitable for use in marine environments.

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Features & Benefits

Broad-Spectrum EMI/RFI Shielding – Provides reliable protection against electromagnetic and radio frequency interference, ensuring stable performance in sensitive electronic devices.
Ferromagnetic Nickel Filler – Offers high conductivity and magnetic shielding while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to silver-based coatings.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance – Protects components from oxidation and environmental degradation, ideal for outdoor or industrial applications.
Strong Adhesion to Plastics and Metals – Bonds firmly to ABS, PC/ABS, nylon, PVC, and metal surfaces—perfect for coating enclosures, housings, and connectors.
Durable, Abrasion-Resistant Finish – Forms a smooth, hard coating that withstands handling, vibration, and wear, ensuring long-term performance.
Multiple Application Formats – Available as a brushable liquid, aerosol spray, or precision pen—providing flexibility for prototyping, repair, and high-volume manufacturing.

Applications

EMI / RFI shielding for plastic PCB enclosures – These conductive paints are ideal for providing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding in plastic PCB enclosures. By forming a conductive layer, they not only effectively block unwanted electromagnetic signals from interfering with the PCB but also contain the electromagnetic fields emitted by the PCB, ensuring reliable performance and protection of sensitive electronic components.
Conductive coating for electroplating – Used as a base layer in electroplating processes, these coatings facilitate the deposition of metals onto non-conductive plastic surfaces. This application is essential for enhancing the conductivity and aesthetic appearance of components used in various electronic and decorative applications.
Prototyping and repairing circuits – The versatility of these paints makes them perfect for prototyping and repairing circuits. Whether creating new connections, bridging broken traces, or modifying existing circuit layouts, their ease of application allows for quick and precise adjustments during the design or repair phase.
Creating electrical contacts – These coatings can be used to create temporary or permanent electrical contacts, enabling connections where traditional wiring may not be feasible. This capability supports innovative designs in prototyping, wearable technology, and compact electronic devices.
Grounding surfaces – Conductive paints are highly effective for grounding surfaces, which is crucial for preventing static buildup and maintaining electrical safety. They can be applied to various substrates to ensure proper grounding in equipment and enclosures, contributing to overall system stability and user protection.

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FAQ

How much is conductive paint going to cost?

The answer depends on a few factors so the cost/volume should not the sole metric. Instead, we need to consider the surface area of the part, method of application and likely dry film thickness of coating we end up with. For example, if you’re part measures 380cm² , you can estimate the amount of parts you can coat with a finite volume of coating using the theoretical coverage value found in the TDS. This value assumes a dry film thickness (defined in the calculation) and 100% transfer efficiency which is also variable. For example, if we went with the 841AR, the theoretical coverage based on 2 mil dry film thickness and 100% transfer efficiency is 44,785cm²/L so 1L of material should coat.

= 44,785cm²/L ÷ 380cm² or 118 parts.

In reality, your transfer efficiency will depend on method and operator but a good guide is 80% for spray application and 90-95% for manual brush so the coverage can be adjusted accordingly

=44,785cm²/L *80% or 35,828cm²/L

Dry film thickness is another variable which can only be determined experimentally and may differ between operators, if an operator can average 1.5mils instead of 2, the coverage can be determined

=44,785cm²/L *(2mil/1.5mil) = 59,713cm²/L

Once you have a reasonable idea of how many parts of a given surface area you can coat per unit volume, you can take the cost of that volume, divide by the number of parts to get an estimate of the cost per part which is a better reflection of project costs

What substrates does acrylic conductive coating stick to?

This coating is designed for many conventional thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, ABS, Nylon and PVC. It will also adhere to conventional paint systems like epoxy, polyurethane, polyester, acrylics and alkyds. It does not bond to metals or glass and is not the right system for those substrates. Polyolefins and other difficult-to-bond plastics like PEEK or Delrin will require extensive surface pretreatment like acid etching or plasma to bond

Can I apply an overcoat to acrylic conductive coatings?

Yes, whether for esthetic purposes or to improve corrosion protection, you can apply a protective topcoat to conductive acrylic coatings without sacrificing performance. Caution needs to be exercised however as to what paint to use since coatings with harsh solvents may dissolve parts of the underlying conductive coating, creating a gap where EMI/RFI can leak through. MG Chemicals recommends using a water-based latex as an overcoat.

Does applying thicker coats add more EMI protection?

Applying thicker layers of conductive acrylic paint may improve shielding against lower frequencies (Hz range) with absorption but for the most part will not improve shielding substantially and is not worth the added time or cost. For best results, it is important to choose the correct coating and ensure you get complete coverage of the surface as holes or gaps in the film are where radiation seep in or leak out.

Can I shield against magnetic fields?

Yes, but this is achieved strictly with a nickel conductive coating as nickel is a ferromagnetic material which provides shielding against magnetic fields. Other fillers like Carbon, Silver or Copper will not work as they are diamagnetic materials.

If I apply a conductive coating over another conductive coating, do I boost the overall shielding?

Combining shielding coatings does not give an additive effect, overall shielding will be governed by the conductive acrylic paint with the highest EMI shielding.

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841AR – Super Shield™ Nickel Conductive Coating

This nickel conductive paint for plastic is an EMI / RFI shielding paint consisting of a 1-part, solvent-based acrylic lacquer, pigmented with a highly conductive nickel flake. Unlike diamagnetic fillers such as carbon, copper, or silver that only shield the electric component of electromagnetic waves, nickel is ferromagnetic and shields the magnetic component as well. It is smooth, hard, and abrasion resistant. It can be easily applied by brush or spray. It has a quick dry time, with no heat cure necessary. It adheres strongly to most injection molded plastics, such as ABS, PVC, nylon and polycarbonate. It also provides strong corrosion resistance and is suitable for use in marine environments.

841ER – EMF Shielding Paint for Electronics

This 2-part epoxy paint shields electronic equipment from electromagnetic waves. The cured paint is smooth, durable and resists marring. Nickel is an ideal material for shielding radio frequency (RF) since it can absorb these signals. This RF shielding coating resists chemicals and adheres to metal, glass and most plastics.

The metal coating blocks electromagnetic interference, ensuring continued use of electrical devices. The nickel filler blocks not only high frequency electromagnetic waves but also radio waves. This feature provides great electromagnetic shielding across a wide spectrum of wavelengths. The durability of the epoxy binder coupled with nickel filler makes this coating a highly effective shielding material.

841WB – EMF Paint for Electronics

This EMF paint is a 1-part, water-based conductive coating with conductive nickel flake added. Nickel is ferromagnetic and blocks the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field along with high frequency electric fields. Nickel is a practical option to provide good shielding across a broad frequency range.

Resources

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Related Categories

841AR – Super Shield™ Nickel Conductive Coating

841ER – EMF Shielding Paint for Electronics

841WB – EMF Paint for Electronics

841WBU – EMF Shielding Paint for Home Protection

841AR – Super Shield™ Nickel Conductive Coating

841ER – EMF Shielding Paint for Electronics

841WB – EMF Paint for Electronics

841WBU – EMF Shielding Paint for Home Protection

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Resources

Latest Case Study

1-Part Epoxy Potting Compounds for Crankshaft Position Sensors

Latest Blog Post

Electrically Conductive Coatings Help Maintain Critical Electronic Infrastructure on Naval Platforms

Latest Video

How to De-Aerate Mixed Epoxy using a Vacuum Chamber

Nickel Conductive Paints

Conductive Water-Based Coatings Preserve Military Encryption

Reinforced Plastics for Aerospace and Defense: Powered by Conductive Paint and Electroplating

Shielding Mobile and Deployable Command Centres from EMI with Conductive Coatings

How Conductive Paint Is Enhancing the Performance of Modern Sonobuoys

Conductive Paints for EMI Shielding in Defense and Law-Enforcement Drones

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