Weighing the pros and cons of enclosure materials

Enclosures come in many styles, sizes and shapes, but material is often the very first consideration when sourcing a new enclosure and arguably the biggest factor in its performance. Knowledge of common materials is vital for planning, sourcing, and maintaining electrical and electronic assemblies.

02/05/2025 16:10:35

Broadly speaking, enclosure materials can be divided into metallic and non-metallic categories.

Non-metallics
Most non-metallic enclosures are made with plastic, typically ABS or polycarbonate, but this category also includes fibreglass.

Non-metallics are permeable to radio frequency (RF) waves and make a good choice for wireless communication devices that need to send and receive signals easily.

However, this feature can be detrimental if the device needs to be kept isolated from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI).

Read the full article in DPA's May 2025 issue