Charcoal-containing building materials for electromagnetic radiation shielding

The aim of the study presented in the current article was to experimentally substantiate the possibility of obtaining the cost effective building materials for electromagnetic radiation shielding by using powdered charcoal as a filler. Such charcoal properties as low cost and high carbon content (up to 90.0 wt.%) were the prerequisites for the study. To achieve the goal, a method for obtaining composite materials based on powdered charcoal and building gypsum was developed and experimentally substantiated by the authors. Further, the samples of charcoal-containing building materials were made according to the developed method and the electromagnetic radiation reflection and transmission coefficients values of the samples were measured in the frequency range of 0.7–17.0 GHz using scalar network analyzer. According to the measurements results, it was found that the average value of the electromagnetic radiation reflection coefficient in the specified frequency range of the materials produced in accordance with the presented method (when these materials thickness was equal to 1.0 cm) was –3.0 dB, and the average value of the electromagnetic radiation transmission coefficient was –25.0 dB. The studied materials are recommended for use in electromagnetic shielding of the rooms housing the electronic devices.