The answers below are intended for early material selection and project discussion. Real-world shielding should be validated in the finished assembly under the intended test conditions.
What should I check first if the measured shielding is too low?
Start with seams, openings, cable penetrations, closures and conductive contacts. A high-performing fabric cannot compensate for a large leakage path elsewhere in the assembly.
Can poor bonding reduce shielding performance?
Yes. Oxidation, paint, contamination, low compression and incompatible metals can increase contact resistance and interrupt conductive continuity.
Could the wrong test setup be the problem?
Yes. Verify that the test frequency, antenna or fixture, calibration, sample geometry and reference method match the intended requirement. Material-level and enclosure-level measurements are not interchangeable.
When should the material itself be questioned?
After installation and test-method issues have been checked, compare incoming material properties with the approved sample or specification, including surface resistance, construction, plating, width, thickness and any relevant shielding data.