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Improve EMI Shielding in Electronics with Polyolefin-Based PSA Tapes from 3M™

There’s no escaping electromagnetic waves. They occur naturally in the air, but they also emit from Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can disrupt electronics, corrupt data, and shorten the life of devices.  For OEMs designing smaller, more powerful electronics, gaskets designed to provide effective EMI shielding is essential. 

3M™’s new 5113 series of polyolefin-based conductive tapes offers an innovative solution — delivering both reliable shielding and strong adhesion to hard-to-bond substrates like polyethylene and polypropylene. 

Challenges in EMI shielding 

EMI shielding tape provides a lightweight multi-purpose solution, as it simultaneously shields and holds components in place. But there’s one unfortunate reality in product design: Materials like polyethylene and polypropylene offer advantageous properties such as lightweight and chemical resistance but pose adhesion challenges due to their low surface energy.​

Innovations in EMI shielding 

When innovative new products unlock new solutions for challenging designs, it’s a game changer for OEMs. 3M™ has developed the 5113 series of electrically conductive tapes, engineered to bond effectively to challenging low-surface-energy substrates while offering superior EMI shielding performance.​

What’s unique about the 3M™ 5113 series of electrically conductive tape?

The 3M™ 5113 series incorporates a proprietary polyolefin-based conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive (CPSA) and a conductive matrix carrier, facilitating strong adhesion to low-energy surfaces alongside effective EMI shielding.

Traditional acrylic or rubber-based adhesives often require surface primers or mechanical fasteners to bond to LSE (low surface energy) plastics. The 5113 series eliminates this step, simplifying assembly while maintaining shielding performance.

3M™ innovation: Polyolefin as a pressure-sensitive adhesive

The polyolefin-based PSA in the 3M™ 5113 series enhances design flexibility by enabling reliable adhesion to substrates like polyethylene and polypropylene, which are traditionally difficult to bond.​

Conductive components

The combination of a nickel/copper/nickel-coated conductive woven fabric carrier and the conductive polyolefin adhesive establishes a continuous electrical path, ensuring effective EMI shielding and protection for sensitive electronic components. 

Solutions and benefits of 3M™ 5113 series of electrically conductive tape

Configurations of 3M™ 5113 Series Electrically Conductive Tapes:

  • 3M™ Electrically Conductive Single-Sided Tape 5113SFT-50 for dynamic shielding and covering applications
  • 3M™ Electrically Conductive Double-Sided Tape 5113DFT-50 for complex grounding applications

Key Benefits of 3M™ 5113 Series Electrically Conductive Tapes:

  • Four-year shelf life to deliver a reliable, consistent performance
  • Greater design flexibility and versatility
  • Higher temperature resistance: Long term, up to 105 degrees Celsius in humid conditions
  • High adhesion and strong bonding to some low-energy surfaces, reducing the need for primers
  • Highly comfortable, allowing for precision in placement in tight spaces to create EMI sealed bond lines
  • Helps control signal interference through PIM mitigation for higher signal integrity and performance

Applications of 3M™ 5113 Series Electrically Conductive Tapes:

  • Circuit interconnection
  • Camera module grounding
  • Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
  • EMI shield and gasket attachment
  • Shield can lid
  • PCB/flex/chassis grounding
  • Bond line gap shielding
  • Medium pitch flexible circuits and PCBs
  • PIM management

Industries for 3M™ 5113 Series Electrically Conductive Tapes:

  • General industrial electronics
  • Appliances, automotive and IoT devices
  • Communications infrastructure
  • Medical equipment

Source: 3M™ Electrically Conductive Tapes 5113 Series

EMI shielding solutions from SRP

Is the 3M™ 5113 series the electronically conductive tape you’ve been seeking? Talk to the experts at SRP. We collaborate with leading brands like 3M™ to identify the best materials for your project, procure what you require and precision die-cut to meet your exact specifications.Send us your CAD file and project requirements to get a prompt and hassle-free quote. Contact us today.