ARACON® Fibers: Advanced EMI Shielding for High-Reliability Systems

Eletter Product

Modern aerospace and defense platforms are operating in increasingly complex electromagnetic environments, where performance margins are tight and every ounce matters. Legacy shielding solutions such as traditional copper braids can provide acceptable electrical conductivity, but they introduce trade-offs that are harder to justify in today’s systems. Added weight, reduced flexibility, corrosion over time, and installation limitations can negatively impact long-term reliability and overall platform efficiency. For high-frequency, SWaP-constrained (Size, Weight, and Power) applications, these compromises are no longer sustainable.

ARACON® fiber from Micro-Coax was developed to address these evolving challenges. By integrating the conductivity of metal with advanced lightweight fiber technology, ARACON creates a braided shielding solution that behaves like a textile while maintaining exceptional electrical performance. The result is a shield that is up to 80% lighter than comparable copper constructions, without sacrificing EMI and RFI protection.

Designed for mission-critical applications—including fighter aircraft, spacecraft, missile systems, and UAVs—ARACON shielding delivers consistent, broadband protection across demanding frequency ranges. It achieves greater than 90% optical coverage and meets rigorous qualification standards such as RTCA DO-160 for lightning protection, MIL-STD-810 environmental testing, ASTM requirements, and FAA flammability as well as smoke and toxicity criteria.

Beyond weight savings, ARACON fiber is engineered for durability and flexibility. With a service life exceeding 50,000 bend cycles, it supports dynamic routing and complex harness designs in tight, space-constrained platforms. Its memory-free construction reduces mechanical stress on underlying conductors and simplifies installation—no specialized tooling required.

A newly updated ARACON Shielding brochure is now available, providing detailed technical data, frequency performance information, braid configurations, and environmental qualification summaries. Download the brochure today to explore how ARACON fiber can enhance your next aerospace or defense design.