Spira’s ZT Test Fixtures Spira’s ZT Fixtures offer an inexpensive and reliable means of testing the shielding quality of EMI gaskets and gasketed joints where the testing is consistent with the SAE ARP-1705 Rev A standard. The fixtures are intended for use by: (1) gasket manufacturing companies for developing new products and to perform quality assurance testing on their products; (2) the users of gaskets for selecting gaskets and joint surfaces to comply with their system’s radiated requirements; and (3) by the users’ Quality Assurance departments to certify gasket products. The standard fixtures are delivered with gold plated joint surfaces (gold plated base plate and contact plate) for quality assurance testing of EMI gaskets. The base and contact plates are available in a variety of materials and finishes for engineering evaluation testing. See below for ordering information. ZT-1000
Fixture: ZT-1705
Fixture: ZT-2000
Fixture:
Theory of Operation The basic ZT fixtures are comprised of the components illustrated. The signal enters the fixture through the 50 ohm input connector assembly and into the gasket retaining chamber. The chamber consists of the base plate, contact plate and gasket under test. The characteristic impedance of the chamber is controlled to be 50 ohms to the greatest extent possible, which results in a controlled current across the gasket. The voltage across the gasket is measured by a receiver pin connected to the output connector assembly. The current path through the fixture from the gasket to the output connector results in a complex impedance. As long as the complex impedance is small compared to the 50 ohm impedance of the receiver, the measured voltage is approximately the same as the voltage across the gasket. As the impedance approaches 50 ohms, a correction factor must be applied to obtain an actual voltage across the gasket. Shielding Quality Test Results The shielding quality of a gasket is as defined in SAE ARP-1705 Rev A and is the ratio of the impedance of the incident wave divided by the Transfer Impedance of the gasketed joint as follows: SQ=20 log ZW/ZT This ratio is a good approximation of the shielding effectiveness of a gasketed joint when using the constraints and conditions consistent with electromagnetic theory and MIL-STD-285. Assuming a wave impedance of 377 ohms greatly simplifies the calculations, i.e., shielding quality of a gasket having ZT=10-3=20 log 377/10-3=111 dB.
The chart above illustrates the shielding quality of gasketed joints assuming a plane wave (i.e., 377 ohms) as the incident field. As is illustrated, the shielding quality is greatly affected by the joint surface material finish. Oxidation and other aging phenomena can cause equal degradation to the shielding quality of the joint. This information is essential when selecting EMI gaskets and joint surfaces for use on electrical/electronic equipment requiring electromagnetic compliance. Required ZT Test Equipment
Spira has a complete transfer impedance test facility for performing engineering evaluation testing to your specifications and requirements. For further information, please contact us.
Additional Components
* The semi-rigid coaxial cables come in 6" (150mm) increments. The dash number (-X) indicates how many 6" increments you want. Example: -1 is 6" long; -3 is 18" long. Additional Joint Surfaces Gasketed joint testing (testing using other joint metals and plating) is used to test the shielding quality of gaskets using the joint materials and surface preparation under consideration. Base and contact plates made from other base material with surface preparation (other than gold) can be provided upon request. Engineering Evaluation
Testing
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