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In November of 2019, Gore announced that they were discontinuing their EMI shielding material. Obviously, this announcement creates the potential for supply chain disruption as OEMs scramble to find replacement materials.
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Finding a new EMI shielding solution isn’t simple, and adding in the unique properties of the Gore GS series, finding an appropriate and quick solution is where the challenge comes in.
Here at Modus®, we work with a number of material suppliers to offer thousands of different material options - and one of these suppliers is Silicone Specialty Product (SSP). We met with Dominic Testo from SSP to learn more about what this discontinuation of material meant for our shared customers.
Dominic walked us through the materials that were being discontinued and offered alternative materials from SSP that could closely match the properties of the Gore material.
Discontinued Gore EMI Shielding Materials
Gore is a materials technology company that develops a variety of products, from fireproof fabrics to microwave cables. The EMI materials they produced were unique in their properties and traditionally not easily changed for an alternative.
The discontinued materials are:
- GORE GS2100: lightweight, conductive shielding solution for low compression situations such as air and space
- GORE GS5200: adhesive, conductive EMI shielding for electronic applications
- GORE GS8000: conductive, die-cut gasket shielding for high-volume electronic applications
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Visit our complete EMI shielding resource center.
Alternative EMI Shielding Solutions
If you are looking for alternatives to the GS2100 and GS5200, check out Silicone Specialty Products (SSP) EMI shielding materials. While SSP does not currently provide an alternative for the GS8000, the alternatives they provide for the GS2100 and GS5200 meet, and in some cases exceed, the Gore shielding standards.
Take a look at this table to see a side-by-side comparison of the two:
Gore
SSP with Modus Advanced
Product
GORE GS2100
Temperature Range
-200ºC to 200ºC
-60ºC to 200ºC
Flame Retardant
Yes - V0
Yes - V0
Shielding Effectiveness (E-Field)
100 dB
114 dB
Outgassing
<1% of Total Mass Lost
<1% of Total Mass Lost
Shore A
45
35-45
Product
GORE GS5200
Temperature Range
-55ºC to 125ºC
-60ºC to 220ºC
Flame Retardant
Yes - V0
Yes - V0
Shielding Effectiveness (E-Field)
90 dB
117 dB
Outgassing
<1% of Total Mass Lost
<1% of Total Mass Lost
Shore A
60
55-65
Replacing Gore Material
Despite the announcement from Gore, we have found that many OEMs are unaware that Gore discontinued these products, which has left OEMs scrambling to find the right alternative.
Modus has been working closely with SSP on material selection support for engineers and supply chain professionals in need of immediate support. As a converter of SSP material, we’ve worked hard to build a beneficial relationship for our shared customers, including:
- Quick customer service response
- Engineering support for design and material selection
- Rapid prototype and production volumes
- Test and compliance documentation
For years, Modus® has trusted SSP for quality silicone materials. This partnership has enabled Modus to provide custom Engineered solutions to a wide variety of OEMs with speed and precision.
