THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024
Researchers at the Belarusian State University in Misnk, Belarus, have reportedly created a radio-absorbing coating that can protect against electromagnetic radiation.
According to a press release obtained by local media, the university explains that the project is meant to help improve the technology used in mass production and reduce its cost.
About the Study
Researchers at the university explained that that at the moment, radio-absorbing coatings are being used in specially equipped rooms like anechoic chambers and measuring platforms, designed for testing various electronic equipment. This reportedly includes simple tools like radars and antennas, as well as larger machinery such as electric buses and airplanes.
“The project corresponds to world analogues and is able to replace expensive imported goods for domestic production,” the BSU press service wrote.
All these devices reportedly need to be tested for electromagnetic compatibility before being put on sale or used in production.
Additionally, surfaces like walls, floors and ceilings are reportedly covered by a cone-shaped material that works to absorb radio waves.The team explains that these waves are electromagnetic vibrations spreading through space at the speed of light
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Belarusian State University |
Researchers at the Belarusian State University in Misnk, Belarus, have reportedly created a radio-absorbing coating that can protect against electromagnetic radiation. |
According to the team, radiation from these things can cause failures and interference in the operation of equipment, disable devices, enable distortion, deletion or leakage of information on digital media and more. Due to this issue, the team believes that excessive electromagnetic radiation must be eliminated for successful testing.
“This is the task of radio-absorbing coatings. They ‘absorb’ electromagnetic energy and convert it into thermal energy. To achieve this effect, it is necessary to ensure the electrical conductivity of the products,” the BSU team stated.
“For these purposes, BSU scientists use carbon materials as part of the product, including nanomaterials, which allows producing coatings that are more resistant to mechanical effects. And their specific shape in the form of cones or pyramids ensures the absorption of radio waves in a wide range of frequencies and angles of incidence.”
Now, the developed coatings have reportedly been introduced into production, though only for custom batches of a few different volumes. Moving forward, the team plans to use the coating to help improve the technology of mass production.
The project is reportedly being worked on by teams at the Laboratory of Applied Electrodynamics and Elionics of the A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems of Belarusian State University, and the Laboratory of Radiophysics and Information Technology of the Faculty of Radiophysics and Computer Technology.
Valery Knysh, the Head of the Laboratory of Applied Electrodynamics of the A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems of BSU, is reportedly in charge of the research.
Other Electromagnetic Coatings
In January of 2022, researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology and the Heilongjiang Institute of Construction Technology in China published a review on the electromagnetic absorption function in green building materials.
In the study, the team classified electromagnetic waves absorbing materials from building angles and analyzed the challenges of building electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials. Their findings were made available online in the Journal of Materials Science & Technology.
According to reports, due to the increased use of electronic equipment, electromagnetic (EM) radiation in buildings has skyrocketed. This specific type of radiation is created through various electronic transmission emission sources, accompanied by EM wave intervention, human health harm, data security spillages, residential pollution and other issues.
To create an environment free of EM radiation, researchers looked to incorporating advanced EM wave-absorbing materials into buildings to mitigate the increasing EM pollution in building spaces. Anti-EM radiation structures that prevent supplementary EM pollution are primarily based on the absorption concept.
In their published study, the team reviewed the research progress of building materials with EM wave absorption functions and combed through a variety of classifications, such as cement, concrete, ceramics, prefabs and advanced coating materials, among others, as to outline and evaluate EM wave absorption performance.
In the concrete sectors, researchers studied the potential of prefabricated and EM smart materials within concrete itself. According to the team, prefabricated construction materials can achieve complex structures while also making other elements easier to incorporate. The material is also capable of absorbing EM waves.
Additionally, the building material has known high tensile strength, water resistance, fire resistance, chemical resistance, alkali barrier properties, frost resistance and ease of cleaning in construction. The material is also reportedly easy to install and portable.
When looking to general concrete however, the team reported that most EM smart materials for concrete are protecting materials. While shielding materials will depend on reflection instead of absorption, the team reported that EM energy won’t be dissipated, but instead redirected where most EM waves transmit, so EM contamination can’t be eliminated.
The researchers went on to point out, though, that cement's quantity content as an element of concrete is only about 30%, while aggregate's quantity content is about 60%. In making this observation, the team suggested that concrete with cement would be the primary absorption component.
In looking to protective coatings, the team also observed nickel metal as a polymer composite and ceramic green building.
According to researchers, the magnetic force of nickel metal is primarily attributed to the spin of 3D charged particles. However, without an outer EM field, the magnetic particles spin around the comparable anisotropic ground.
In ceramic-based construction, the focus shifted to elastic modulus and water permeability. Because ceramic materials are more commonly used for decorative exterior applications, the effects of a porous structure and water absorption on increasing density of the ceramic surface and stain removal must be considered.
Researchers found that the most effective form of ceramic materials were that of microcrystalline glass floor tiles with both decorative and EM wave absorption characteristics.
Although the team was planning to continue its research into the matter, they noted that there was a lack of adequate system assurances in terms of the actual effect test results, demonstrations and strategies of the business in related research in the area of anti-EM radioactivity building materials.
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