The image above shows a Tritium RFID tag that is 12mm x 3mm x 0.1mm (next to a US quarter) embedded in a laminate carbon composite structure.
– When working with radio opaque materials like metal and carbon fiber, it can be difficult to get wireless signals to the outside world. Tritium recently discovered this difficulty when developing a radio identification system. The problem with materials like carbon fiber is that they interfere with the electromagnetic signals and produce significant interference with the wireless device. After significant research and development, Tritium was able to come up with two working solutions that have proven effective with all types of composite materials and some metals.
If the user is not limited to smartphone readers, then it is possible to make radio signals in lower frequencies pass right through the carbon substrate. Our engineering team has demonstrated this at shortwave frequencies.