The price of silver is up 200% since January 2025 and just hit an all-time high of over $88 per ounce. As a result, the price of EMI shielding sheet stock is roughly double what it was last spring. Today, some experts are predicting that silver could hit $100 per ounce this January.
If you’re buying EMI shielding silicones that contain silver or silver-coated particles, now is the time to minimize silver’s impact on your project costs. Here are three ways to get the cost-effective EMI shielding that you need.
Scenario 1: Stuck with Silver
You need to meet MIL-DTL-83528 requirements and use an EMI silicone with a different fill. All the lettered section of this U.S. military specification call for silver or silver-coated fillers, so what options do you have? For starters, consider molded or bonded frame gaskets. This white paper explains how molding reduces costs, and this case study explains why bonding is cost-effective.
Have you been buying EMI sheets and discarding the “blank” section in the middle of each frame gasket? That’s a costly form of material waste. SSP has third-party data that shows how our bonded products meet the same shielding effectiveness requirements as parts cut from sheet materials. Plus, our minimum order quantities (MOQs) for fabricated products are flexible.
Scenario 2: Switch from Silver
You’ve been buying sheets of silver-filled silicones that meet MIL-DTL-83528 requirements; however, your project gives you the freedom to evaluate non-silver fills. SSP makes nickel-graphite silicones that are three to six times less expensive than silver-filled materials. They’ve also been independently tested for shielding effectiveness.
Here’s a third-party shielding report for one of our nickel-graphite products, SSP-502-65. It’s our most cost-effective elastomer. SSP also makes nickel-graphite silicones that are low outgassing, flame retardant, or are reinforced with a conductive layer of inner fabric. We also make nickel-graphite fluorosilicones for environments that require EMI shielding plus fuel and solvent resistance.
Scenario 3: Finished Parts and Design Assistance
You need finished parts and are open to getting some design assistance. Ask SSP to provide a quote for the entire finished part. We’re a materials manufacturer, but we also cut and mold EMI gaskets and EMI O-rings. Plus, since we have our own toolroom, we’re able to quickly and cost-effectively machine the molds, jigs, and fixtures that are needed before part production can begin.
How does this help you to control material costs? SSP maintains an inventory of non-stock sheet sizes. If there’s a fit for your part, we’ll convert sheets cost-effectively and minimize material waste. Alternatively, our in-house experts may be able to help you to reduce material usage by suggesting a thinner gasket or helping you switch from a flat flange gasket to a bonded O-ring.
Control EMI Shielding Costs with SSP
As this article shows, Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) can help you control EMI shielding costs at a time when silver prices have reached historic highs. Contact us for a quote or to discuss your application. We’re ready to help.
