Home » News » RFID Solutions in Metal and Liquid Environments – Comprehensive and Detailed Guide
RFID Solutions in Metal and Liquid Environments – Comprehensive and Detailed Guide
RFID is currently considered one of the most advanced technologies in warehouse management and traceability. However, in reality, RFID still doesn’t perform very well in metal and liquid environments, with readers failing to receive signals, missing tags, and experiencing interference, etc. Understanding this, in this article, IT Nam Viet would like to share with our customers a solution for RFID in metal and liquid environments. Please refer to it.
RFID Solutions in Metal and Liquid Environments
Why are metals and liquids sworn enemies of RFID systems?
RFID is a technology for identifying objects via radio waves. Accordingly, metals and liquids are considered sworn enemies of RFID systems. While metals reflect and absorb signals, water weakens the energy of RF waves.
Specifically, as follows:
Metals are highly conductive materials, causing two physical phenomena that directly affect RFID performance: reflection and diffraction. Metals act like mirrors for RFID radio waves; the waves are reflected back into the environment, causing multipath propagation. This leads to interference and self-cancellation of wavelengths, creating “blind spots” in the RFID reader, preventing the reader from recognizing the RFID tag.
On the other hand, when radio waves pass through metal objects, the beam is bent, causing energy attenuation and interference, leading to unstable data readings.
RFID tag operation in a metallic environment
Furthermore, liquids have the property of absorbing radio wave energy, so the waves emitted from the RFID reader are almost completely absorbed by the environment. As a result, the RFID tag does not receive enough magnetic field energy to activate and respond with a signal. In addition, radio waves are deflected when passing through a liquid environment, distorting the standard reading angle of the RFID system.
The impact of RFID in metallic and liquid environments.
RFID Solutions in Metal and Liquid Environments
As mentioned, environmental factors such as liquids and metals can absorb or reflect radio waves, leading to interference with RFID signals and unstable system operation. So, how can these limitations be overcome? See the information below:
RFID solutions in liquid environments
Include:
Choose the appropriate RFID frequency range, usually a low-frequency RFID tag:
Instead of using high-frequency or ultra-high-frequency RFID tags, you should prioritize using low-frequency RFID tags. If the system requires fast reading speeds and long distances, the investor can consider a perfect alternative: using UHF (near-field) RFID tags specifically designed to withstand liquid environments.
For small bottles, cosmetics, beverages, etc., the optimal solution is to use a foam or silicone pad between the RFID tag and the liquid. This layer acts as a magnetic buffer, ensuring the tag receives enough energy to reflect the signal. Alternatively, we suggest several RFID tagging solutions for objects submerged in liquids, such as using low-frequency RFID tags or near-field UHF RFID tags.
RFID tags in liquid environments
Optimize system design and reading location:
To ensure optimal reading performance, you need to optimize the system design, ensuring that radio waves can reach the tag without being completely absorbed by the liquid. RFID antenna installation needs to be carefully and precisely calculated, using an RFID power meter to determine if enough energy is transmitted to the RFID tag, and then making appropriate adjustments.
This is a necessary solution for addressing radio wave reflection in metallic environments. Metal-resistant RFID tags create a safe distance between the RFID chip’s antenna and the metal surface, preventing reflection and ensuring smooth reading over long distances.
Embedding and physical shielding techniques:
For small mechanical parts or environments with strong impacts, the optimal method is to drill a small hole in the metal object, embed the RFID tag inside, and cover it with insulating glue. For environments containing many metal materials, you can use wave-absorbing materials behind the reader system to suppress excess waves, preventing signal reflections that cause interference.
RFID tags on metal surfaces
RFID solutions in other special environments
Besides liquid and metal environments, RFID radio waves are also affected by fluorescent lights and other radio wave-containing environments. Therefore, the solution we propose to prevent RFID interference in these environments is:
Place radio wave-absorbing materials between fluorescent lamps and RFID technology systems.
Fluorescent lamps can be replaced with LEDs or traditional incandescent lamps; however, LEDs are recommended for optimal operating costs and lighting quality.
Design the RFID system to ensure radio waves can reach the RFID tags. An RFID power meter can be used to determine the energy transmitted to the RFID tags.
Install radio wave barriers between operating areas to create an ideal operating environment for RFID systems.
RFID solutions in metal environments
RFID performance is affected by installation techniques
With over 10 years of experience in designing, constructing, and implementing RFID warehouse management systems in Vietnam, we have observed that RFID performance is affected not only by the environment but also by installation techniques.
Accordingly, the performance of RFID technology is affected by:
The equipment was not selected for the system, and the RFID tags were chosen without considering the physical characteristics of the goods, leading to weak or inaccurate signals.
The reading system design, including reading distance, reader position, antenna angle, power, etc., was not truly optimized.
No real-world testing was conducted before system deployment.
Therefore, the units need to rectify this situation by:
Designing RFID systems that are suitable for the operating environment, prioritizing the use of metal-resistant RFID tags in environments containing many metallic materials,…
Applying intelligent processing algorithms, combined with integration of specialized RFID management software,…
Metal-resistant RFID tags
Contact IT Nam Viet via Hotline (+84) 962 888 179 for advice and answers to your questions!
IT Nam Viet – A Reputable Provider of Comprehensive RFID Solutions in Vietnam
IT Nam Viet is proud to be a reputable provider of comprehensive RFID solutions in Vietnam, offering RFID equipment and software across various sectors, meeting the requirements of customers of all sizes, from small to large.
At IT Nam Viet, we conduct on-site surveys before providing detailed consultations to clients, ensuring the system is “tailor-made” to suit the needs and budget of each business. We offer a wide range of genuine RFID tags, RFID readers, and metal-resistant RFID labels.
With over 10 years of experience and as a strategic partner of hundreds of large and small businesses nationwide, we are committed to implementing RFID at reasonable costs, with clear warranties and attentive after-sales service, ensuring optimal benefits for all investors.
The above information provides details about RFID solutions in metal and liquid environments for your reference. If you need advice or a quote for RFID, please contact IT Nam Viet via Hotline (+84)962 888 179!
My name is Le Nam Viet, currently FOUNDER & CEO of Nam Viet IT Company, I graduated from Ho Chi Minh Polytechnic University. I have more than 3 years of experience providing RFID chip technology solutions, RFID scanners, barcode labels and barcode readers. It’s a pleasure to share my knowledge with readers.
Tiếng Việt
