No more fine black dust due to Leaking Absorbers

Most RF/MW engineers, who often work in anechoic chambers, have noticed a layer of fine black dust inside their chambers and on their clothes and hands. Some engineers even keep an additional set of work clothes for use within the anechoic chamber due to this issue.

So, how did this happen, and how did they solve it? Rik de Groot, the owner of Dutch Microwave Absorber Solutions (DMAS), explains: “Traditional polyfoam is impregnated with high-loss dielectric material. Over time, depending on the chamber climate conditioning, the absorbers become brittle and leak the fine black particles. These particles are potentially hazardous and a nuisance for the lab working environment, but may also destabilise the absorbers’ RF performance.”

Following the successful introduction of the hybrid EMC absorber in 2011, DMAS aims to reinvent its microwave absorber models.

Rik de Groot: “The main goal was altering its shape and enhancing the material composition for optimised RF performance above 20GHz. Since EPS is a closed-cell material, we encapsulate the high-loss dielectric material within our products, thereby solving the issue of dust particle leakage. The result is a stable RF performance that remains unchanged over time. Other notable USPs are the water-repellent nature of EPS and product rigidity to maintain their shape so that the tips will not sag.”

Our Senior Technical Consultant, Uliana Trucchi, further explains: “This is good for aesthetics because we like our rooms to maintain their appearance from day one, but it’s also excellent for consistent performance. The people at DMAS are so convinced of the quality of these absorbers that they come with a 25-year RF performance warranty. All our anechoic chambers for antenna testing come with these new microwave absorbers. However, if your current chamber has old, open-cell absorbers showing signs of degradation, please consult me for a rapid and safe solution for the next 25+ years.”

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Exchanging Fast-stirring and ISO 11451-5 knowledge in Japan

Last week, our consultants, Hanneke van Veen and Dimitrios Barakos, visited seven companies in Japan with our friends from Microwave Factory to help companies implement the closed-loop power control (fast stirring) reverb method as per the ISO11451-5 test standards.

Most RF/MW engineers, who often work in anechoic chambers, have noticed a layer of fine black dust inside their chambers and on their clothes and hands. Some engineers even keep an additional set of work clothes for use within the anechoic chamber due to this issue.

So, how did this happen, and how did they solve it? Rik de Groot, the owner of Dutch Microwave Absorber Solutions (DMAS), explains: “Traditional polyfoam is impregnated with high-loss dielectric material. Over time, depending on the chamber climate conditioning, the absorbers become brittle and leak the fine black particles. These particles are potentially hazardous and a nuisance for the lab working environment, but may also destabilise the absorbers’ RF performance.”

Following the successful introduction of the hybrid EMC absorber in 2011, DMAS aims to reinvent its microwave absorber models.

Rik de Groot: “The main goal was altering its shape and enhancing the material composition for optimised RF performance above 20GHz. Since EPS is a closed-cell material, we encapsulate the high-loss dielectric material within our products, thereby solving the issue of dust particle leakage. The result is a stable RF performance that remains unchanged over time. Other notable USPs are the water-repellent nature of EPS and product rigidity to maintain their shape so that the tips will not sag.”

Our Senior Technical Consultant, Uliana Trucchi, further explains: “This is good for aesthetics because we like our rooms to maintain their appearance from day one, but it’s also excellent for consistent performance. The people at DMAS are so convinced of the quality of these absorbers that they come with a 25-year RF performance warranty. All our anechoic chambers for antenna testing come with these new microwave absorbers. However, if your current chamber has old, open-cell absorbers showing signs of degradation, please consult me for a rapid and safe solution for the next 25+ years.”

Share This Post

More To Explore

Exchanging Fast-stirring and ISO 11451-5 knowledge in Japan

Last week, our consultants, Hanneke van Veen and Dimitrios Barakos, visited seven companies in Japan with our friends from Microwave Factory to help companies implement the closed-loop power control (fast stirring) reverb method as per the ISO11451-5 test standards.

Our services include maintenance and validated testing. We recommend that both are executed by authorized personnel only. Our expert teams can perform preventive maintenance on RF-shielded doors, mode-stirrer systems, and positioning equipment such as turntables. We also offer validation services to see if your EMC test chamber or RF-shielded room still functions within its intended limits and avoiding unexpected down-time or product recalls at the same time.

Our services include maintenance and validated testing. We recommend that both are executed by authorized personnel only. Our expert teams can perform preventive maintenance on RF-shielded doors, mode-stirrer systems, and positioning equipment such as turntables. We also offer validation services to see if your EMC test chamber or RF-shielded room still functions within its intended limits and avoiding unexpected down-time or product recalls at the same time.

A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible. 

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible.