838AR-340G – RF Shield Paint for Electronics

This carbon spray paint makes an excellent grounding spray; however, its use is mostly as an RF coating. Users refer to RF coating by other names like RF shielding paint, RF paint, RF blocking paint, and RF reflective paint. This RF coating is ideal for shielding metal detectors where a metal-filled conductive coating would cause malfunction.

Since carbon is not a metal, it shows excellent resistance against corrosion and is ideal for saltwater environments. The paint also resists corrosion from acids and gas exposure. These features make carbon paint a good option for applications outdoors or in aggressive thermal-cycling. Further, carbon paint is safe to apply over metallic surfaces since it will not corrode the base metal.

Unlike other fillers used for electromagnetic shielding, carbon is only effective up to frequencies of 10 MHz. Carbon paint is a highly cost-effective option for low frequencies compared to other fillers. The electrical conductivity is sufficient for repairing worn contacts in devices like remotes and keyboards.

Despite the limited effective shielding range, this carbon paint shields many common devices that operate within lower frequencies. Specifically, the carbon paint shields devices like AM radios, maritime communication systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and laboratory equipment.

The paint applies nicely and is a rich black color, with a smooth matted finish. The dark finish contrasts most substrates making it easy to inspect coating coverage. The coating adheres well to many plastics though not to other substrates like metals or glass. Adhesion to these surfaces may require pretreatment such as a primer or plasma.

The acrylic binder is easy-to-use and cures by drying. Touch ups and rework are easy as well since the coating dissolves with solvents like acetone or IPA. The dried film has good resistance to abrasion and will not easily chip or delaminate. The coating is rigid, intended mostly for rigid, non-moving substrates.

The aerosolized packaging makes it easy for users to apply the coating either on-site or in the field. You do not need any preparation work, so coating parts can occur right away. The packaging enables users to coat parts without expensive equipment such as pressure pots or extractor systems. The aerosol system dispenses the paint as a fine mist that gives a consistent, smooth, matte finish.

This aerosol product is also available in liquid and pen format. For shielding applications against a wider range of frequencies, we offer more conductive materials like nickel, copper or silver paint. Our conductive greases can also be useful in grounding applications. Before applying this product, clean the surface with IPA to remove any trace of oil or other residues.

• Provides >52 dB of RFI shielding at frequencies <1 MHz
• Excellent adhesion to plastics
• Strong corrosion resistance
• Mild solvent system, safe on polystyrenes
• HAP free—does not contain toluene or xylene