Multifunctional Lightweight Electromagnetically Shielded Enclosure Technology Using Affordable Hybrid Carbon Composite Production Processes

The objective of the Phase 2 shielded enclosure program will be to put in place the production ready coating schemes and appropriate composite materials through integrated composite design while assuring for scalable manufacturing processes. This will create the path forward to production. This logic will result in a strong business case down stream. The hybrid enclosure uses a hybrid of high thermal conductivity graphite fibers/foams, metallic materials, and novel EMI shielding coatings. Phase 2 will carry forward the Phase 1 innovations and advancements of low cost, high thermal performance, lightweight composite components that demonstrate very high levels of EMI shielding effectiveness over a broad range of frequency spectra. Weight and cost reduction is a driving parameter and is fundamental for promoting composite materials for this application. To complete the package and satisfy the near term “system-needs”, the coating will be low cost, low risk, and have very high EMI shielding performance. EMI shielding and ESD grounding performance is expected to meet or exceed the current baseline aluminum enclosure performance. MII will deliver qualification hardware in Phase 2 which will create the technical foundation and business strategy to enable commercialization in Phase 3.