conductive emi o-rings

EMI O-Rings: Standard & Custom Conductive Elastomer Seals

Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) manufactures high-performance EMI O-rings that combine electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI) shielding with environmental sealing against dust, moisture, fuels, and harsh chemicals.

We supply electrically conductive O-rings in standard AS568 dimensions, MIL-DTL-83528 slash sizes (including /002 and M83528/005), and fully custom cross-sections. All materials are compound-formulated, extruded, molded, and tool-fabricated in-house at our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Ballston Spa, New York.

What is an EMI O-Ring?

An EMI O-ring (electrically conductive O-ring) is a circular elastomeric seal impregnated with conductive metal fillers (such as silver-aluminum, nickel-graphite, or silver-copper) designed to fit into a groove and compress to provide simultaneous electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI) shielding and environmental sealing (moisture, dust, fuel, or chemical barrier).

Quick Technical Specifications

Electrically Conductive Elastomer Materials and Filler Types

Selecting the proper conductive silicone elastomer depends on your required volume resistivity (VR), shielding attenuation, galvanic corrosion requirements, and fluid exposure. Fluorosilicone base materials add fuel, solvent, and chemical resistance.

Conductive Filler TypeBase ElastomerHardness (Shore A)Typical Volume Resistivity (Ω-cm)MIL-DTL-83528 Type MatchPrimary Application Advantage
Silver-Aluminum (Ag/Al)Silicone650.003Ω-cmType B (QPL)High attenuation, space-grade low outgassing
Silver-Aluminum (Ag/Al)Fluorosilicone700.003Ω-cmType D (QPL)High attenuation with fuel/solvent resistance
Nickel-Graphite (Ni/C)Silicone680.100Ω-cmType C / Type KCost-effective, high galvanic corrosion resistance
Nickel-Graphite (Ni/C)Fluorosilicone600.100Ω-cmMeets MIL-DTL-83528Corrosion & fuel resistance for harsh environments
Silver-Copper (Ag/Cu)Silicone650.003Ω-cmType A (QPL)Maximum electrical conductivity & EMP protection
Nickel-Aluminum (Ni/Al)Silicone680.100Ω-cmCommercial / Mil-GradeGalvanic compatibility with aluminum enclosures

Conductive silicone O-rings from SSP include fluorosilicone EMI shielding O-rings and nickel-graphite silicone conductive O-rings.

Contact us for help with material selection and to discuss your conductive O-ring groove design. We make high-attenuation EMI seals.

Standard & Custom Sizing Options

MIL-DTL-83528 Slash Sizes

SSP fabricates conductive O-rings to match military specification requirements:

AS568 Standard O-Rings

We produce conductive silicone and fluorosilicone O-rings matching standard AS568 EMI O-rings to fit standard commercial gland dimensions without requiring custom enclosure redesigns.

CHO-SEAL®, Gore®, and Nolato Jabar EMI O-Ring Alternatives

SSP manufactures direct drop-in material alternatives for leading industry brands, offering low minimum order quantities (MOQs), shorter lead times, and direct factory support.

(CHO-SEAL® is a registered trademark of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Gore® is a registered trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. SSP is an independent manufacturer.)

EMI O-Ring Fabrication Methods

Manufacturing Methods: Compression Molded vs. Hot-Spliced EMI O-Rings

SSP offers two primary manufacturing methods for conductive O-rings depending on budget, volume, lead time, and cross-section requirements.

Compression Molded EMI O-Rings

Compression molding creates a continuous, single-piece O-ring with no splice joint. It is best suited for mature designs, tight inner diameters, or high-volume production runs where tooling costs ($2,500–$5,000 per mold) are amortized over large quantities.

Hot Vulcanized / Spliced EMI O-Rings (The SSP Advantage)

For prototyping, low-to-medium volume production, or large-diameter enclosure seals (developed lengths of 7 inches or greater), hot splicing extruded conductive cord stock eliminates expensive mold tooling charges and reduces lead times from months to days.

Why SSP’s Hot Splicing Superiority Matters:

  1. Electrically Conductive Adhesive: Unlike competitors who use non-conductive RTV silicone or cyanoacrylate (super glue)—which leaves an EMI leakage pathway—SSP hot-vulcanizes the joint using a matching conductive silicone adhesive.

  2. No Hard Spots: Cold acrylic glues dry rock-hard, creating a stiff section along the O-ring that hinders uniform compression. SSP’s hot-spliced adhesive matches the durometer and flexibility of the base conductive elastomer.

  3. Thermal Resistance: Our conductive vulcanized joint withstands the full $-55^\circ\text{C}$ to $+160^\circ\text{C}$ operating temperature range of the cord stock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Conductive O-Rings

What is the difference between a conductive O-ring and a standard rubber O-ring?

A standard rubber O-ring provides environmental sealing (blocking fluids, dust, and gases) but is an electrical insulator. A conductive EMI O-ring is loaded with microscopic metal particles that allow electrical current to pass through the gasket, grounding the enclosure and blocking electromagnetic radiation (RFI/EMI) while maintaining environmental sealing.

How do I choose between silver-aluminum and nickel-graphite filler?

Choose Silver-Aluminum (Ag/Al) when high shielding effectiveness ($100+\text{ dB}$ attenuation) and MIL-DTL-83528 QPL certification are required, particularly in aerospace and military applications. Choose Nickel-Graphite (Ni/C) when high galvanic corrosion resistance against aluminum flanges is critical, or for cost-conscious commercial applications requiring strong shielding performance ($90+\text{ dB}$).

Should I choose silicone or fluorosilicone as the base elastomer?

Select silicone for general military, aerospace, and commercial applications requiring broad thermal tolerance ($-55^\circ\text{C}$ to $+200^\circ\text{C}$) and weather resistance. Select fluorosilicone (FVMQ) if the O-ring will come into direct contact with fuels, hydraulic fluids, solvents, or oils.

Request a Quote or Technical Design Assistance

Need custom conductive O-ring dimensions, assistance with groove design, or drop-in CHO-SEAL® alternatives? SSP offers rapid turnaround on prototype samples, low minimum order quantities, and direct engineering support.

Contact Specialty Silicone Products Today:

  • Phone: 800-437-1442 / 518-885-8826

  • Location: Ballston Spa, NY (Made in USA)

  • Response Time: We typically reply to all engineering inquiries within one business day.