EMP shielding of mortar mixed with SiC and graphite

Using electromagnetic shielding technology, the exterior walls of buildings can prevent the penetration of electromagnetic waves. This effectively reduces the electromagnetic field intensity and electromagnetic pulse inside buildings. Therefore, in recent years, researchers have focused on developing electromagnetic shielding technology. In this study, we analyzed the physical properties and EMP shielding efficiency of shielding materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC), obtained as a byproduct of the semiconductor manufacturing processes, and graphite mixed with mortar, used in the external walls. The shielding materials underwent pretreatment, such as grinding, before mixing them with mortar. Because shielding materials are expensive, the shielding efficiency was calculated by mixing the respective shielding materials with mortar in only the outermost 10% of the sample mortar volume. Moreover, we calculated the shielding efficiency of the different samples of mortar with shielding materials throughout the volume of the samples using shielding effectiveness (SE) estimation formula. The predicted SE values of the samples of mortar mixed with granular SiC, graphite powder, and SiC powder were 20 dB, 18 dB, and 28 dB, respectively. The SE of the sample of mortar mixed with SiC powder is approximately equal to 30 dB, that is, the maximum shielding efficiency (99.9%).