High Frequency Grounding

Grounding electronic equipment can provide a challenge to engineers trying to protect the low voltage, high frequency signals used in modern computer based products. Equipment racks and enclosures are typically zinc plated with a second chromate conversion coating to protect the zinc coating. This method was adequate for lower frequencies where most of the current was carried in the base metal of the rack, but at high frequencies the signals travel on the surface of the conductor. The problem is that zinc is a poor conductor so ground loops are created in zinc coating by high frequency signals.

A thin aluminum based surface layer, which has half the AC impedance of zinc, is the leading solution. Using the Kinetic Metallization™ (KM) process, Inovati can provide a corrosion resistant aluminum grounding surface on steel equipment racks and enclosures. This surface has low resistance to high frequency signals and provides an excellent grounding path.

The KM process has a number of advantages over traditional zinc coatings. It is an inexpensive single step process that uses no chemicals. It is environmentally safe and requires no hazardous waste material handling. It provides a true metallurgical bond between the metals so there is no chipping and flaking like zinc coatings. The Al-Trans® 10-20-50 coating is a reactive metal, so scratches fill automatically and protect the base material even if the surface is damaged.