Aerospace & Avionics EMI/RFI Shielding
Deep Coat Industries vacuum metallizes plastic and composite housings to shield avionics and aerospace electronics without the weight of a metal enclosure, with coatings engineered to help parts meet RTCA DO-160 and MIL-STD-461 requirements — supplied to defense and aerospace programs since 1981.
Aircraft pack navigation, communication, radar, and control electronics into tight spaces near high-power transmitters, so both emissions and immunity are safety-critical. The shift to composite airframes compounds it: many composites don’t conduct electromagnetic energy the way aluminum does, so shielding increasingly has to be engineered into the equipment enclosures themselves.
The Standards That Govern Aerospace Shielding
| Standard | Scope |
|---|---|
| RTCA DO-160 (rev G) | commercial avionics: Section 21 RF emissions (150 kHz–6 GHz; radiated 100 MHz–6 GHz); Section 20 RF susceptibility (to 18 GHz). |
| MIL-STD-461 (rev G) | military aircraft & systems: RE/CE emissions and RS/CS susceptibility. |
| IEEE 299 | measures enclosure shielding effectiveness, performed by your accredited lab. |
DO-160 also covers lightning-induced transients and direct effects (Sections 22–23) and ESD (Section 25). Deep Coat Industries does not run the qualification lab — we engineer the shielding that helps a housing pass its RF emissions and susceptibility limits, working alongside your accredited test lab.
Why Vacuum Metallizing Fits Aerospace
- Weight savings — a coated plastic/composite housing shields like a conductive enclosure at a fraction of the mass of a metal box.
- Conformal coverage — the film follows complex avionics geometry predictably, minimizing RF-leaking apertures.
- Multi-metal Quad-Fire — combine high conductivity with a durable, groundable surface for demanding service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What standards apply to aerospace EMI shielding?
Commercial avionics are qualified to RTCA DO-160 (RF emissions Section 21, RF susceptibility Section 20); military aircraft follow MIL-STD-461. Enclosure shielding effectiveness is measured per IEEE 299.
Why use vacuum metallizing instead of a metal enclosure in aerospace?
A vacuum metallized plastic or composite housing provides conductive shielding at far less weight than a metal enclosure, while conforming to complex geometries — weight and design freedom that suit aircraft constraints.
Does Deep Coat Industries perform DO-160 testing?
No — Deep Coat Industries engineers and applies the shielding that helps a housing pass, and works alongside your accredited test lab. The formal DO-160 or MIL-STD-461 qualification is performed by the lab.
Can shielding help with composite airframe challenges?
Yes. Because many composite airframes don’t conduct electromagnetic energy the way aluminum does, a conformal conductive coating turns a composite or plastic housing into an effective shield.
Shielding a Weight-Critical Aerospace Part?
Send your part — STEP models, drawings, or samples. Include the shielding goal (dB or surface resistivity), grounding needs, and volumes. Call 630.466.1505 or Request a Quote