Cu Mesh EMI Shielding Film — The Ultimate Guide
Everything you need to know about transparent copper mesh shielding film: an alternative to ITO with superior conductivity, durability, and EMI performance.
01 — What is Cu Mesh shielding film?
Cu Mesh shielding film is a transparent EMC/EMI shielding technology where a very thin copper wire mesh is photo-etched, then moulded, stuck, or laminated onto a transparent PET support.
It provides efficient electromagnetic shielding while maintaining optical transparency above 80% (visible light transmittance). The copper surface is treated for anti-oxidation protection over time.
Being photo-etched, this shielding film achieves a very low surface resistance of 0.25 Ω/square — far superior to ITO alternatives.
Film structure
02 — Types of Cu Mesh film
There are three main references, each with different performance levels:
MFHP — High Performance
The highest shielding performance reference. Used on RF projects requiring strong EMI shielding, such as RFID cabinets where tags outside must not be read by antennas inside. Manufactured in rolls of 1,500 mm wide. Includes an adhesive surface (cannot be produced without it).
Transmittance
≥ 75%
Surface resistance
≤ 0.2 Ω/sq
MFLP — Standard Performance
Standard EMI shielding performance, still far superior to ITO in both shielding and lifetime. Available in rolls of 1,500 mm without optical adhesive, or 700 mm with adhesive.
Transmittance
≥ 81%
Surface resistance
0.1 Ω/sq
COMT 100 — Balanced
A balanced option offering greater than 80% transmittance with a 770 mm wide format at 100 OPI mesh density.
03 — Shielding performance (MIL-285)
Shielding effectiveness measured per MIL-STD-285 across a wide frequency range:
| Model | 10 MHz | 30 MHz | 150 MHz | 1 GHz | 6 GHz | 10 GHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFHP | 38 dB | 49 dB | 76 dB | 53 dB | 40 dB | 35 dB |
| COMT 100 | 32 dB | 41 dB | 66 dB | 47 dB | 31 dB | 26 dB |
| MFLP | 30 dB | 40 dB | 63 dB | 45 dB | 30 dB | 25 dB |
The ground contact to the equipment frame can be done by direct contact between the film and bare metal. To compensate mechanical gaps, EMC gaskets can be added for better sealing.
04 — ITO vs Cu Mesh film
ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is the oldest transparent shielding technology: metallic particles projected onto a PET surface. However, ITO has significant disadvantages that make Cu Mesh the preferred alternative:
ITO drawbacks
- ✗High resistivity: > 1,000 Ω/sq
- ✗Weak oxidation protection — yellows after a couple of years
- ✗Vulnerable to fingerprints and staining
- ✗Poor mechanical strength — scratches easily
- ✗Variable quality depending on particles & process
Cu Mesh advantages
- Low resistivity: ≤ 0.2 Ω/sq
- Anti-oxidation treated copper surface
- High mechanical resistance & durability
- Consistent photo-etching process
- Better shielding at all frequencies
Market studies show that Cu Mesh films are growing while ITO market shares are declining — driven by the superior performance and longevity of copper mesh technology.
05 — Key applications
Cu Mesh film provides shielding on transparent surfaces across many industries:
RFID cabinets & connected equipment
The film is laminated onto EMC windows to ensure electromagnetic and RF proofing. Ground contact is made directly against the frame, with optional EMC gaskets to compensate mechanical float.
Secure meeting rooms
Provides global phone/Wi-Fi shielding (> 40 dB from 10 MHz to 10 GHz) while allowing natural light. Also infrared-proofed, protecting against thermal cameras.
Medical devices (CE certification)
Shields medical monitors to prevent radiated EMI within treatment rooms. Also used during medical imaging operations to protect staff from electromagnetic waves (X-ray).
Anechoic chambers
Perfectly EMC/RF-proofs chamber openings while keeping visibility from outside, without back-and-forth pollution between environments.
Military equipment
Laminated onto screens and armoured vehicle windows for EMC/RF shielding. Infrared-proofed for thermal camera invisibility while maintaining visible transparency.
Display screens & digital signage
Ensures electromagnetic certification compliance (CE) for signal equipment and digital displays with > 81% visible light permeability.
06 — Integration best practices
- Ensure direct contact between the conductive side of the film and bare metal for grounding
- Use EMC gaskets to compensate mechanical gaps and improve EMI sealing at assembly joints
- Consider the adhesive option (available on MFHP and MFLP 700 mm) for simplified installation
- Rolls can be cut on demand to fit your specific formats — A4 samples are available
- The film can be laminated directly onto glass or other transparent substrates
Ensure the contact surface is bare metal — insulating coatings (paint, anodizing) will prevent proper grounding and reduce shielding effectiveness.
07 — Related topics
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