Electromagnetic Shielding Building Material Using Iron Oxide Aggregates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building materials for electromagnetic shielding primarily rely on reflection, which is inefficient and costly, and fail to provide long-term stability and broadband absorption of electromagnetic waves, leading to additional environmental pollution and interference.

Innovation Solution

A building material composed of thermally modified electric furnace slag with increased Fe3O4 proportions, mixed with mineral binders and additives like titanium-doped barium hexaferrite, which absorbs electromagnetic waves through oxidizing conditions, ensuring effective shielding across a wide frequency range with minimal reflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metallic components (copper mesh, aluminum strips, ferrous dust) are added to building materials for electromagnetic shielding, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but the material primarily reflects electromagnetic waves causing field strength to remain unchanged or increase due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding effectivenessVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference and field strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electromagnetic interaction mechanism by replacing metallic components with iron oxide-containing aggregates that have specific magnetic properties (high magnetic loss factor). This parameter change transforms the shielding mechanism from reflection-based to absorption-based, fundamentally altering how the material interacts with electromagnetic waves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful reflective interference caused by metallic components into beneficial absorption. By using iron oxide aggregates with appropriate magnetic losses, the material absorbs electromagnetic energy and converts it to heat, eliminating the interference problem while maintaining shielding effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If carbon fibers or conductive backings are used in shielding plaster to achieve high shielding effectiveness, then shielding performance is improved, but costs and production effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding effectivenessVSAvoidproduction cost and effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive conductive materials (carbon fibers, metallic backings) with inexpensive iron oxide-containing aggregates derived from industrial waste products like electric arc furnace slag. This substitution dramatically reduces material costs while maintaining shielding performance through absorption mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers and utilizes iron oxide-containing waste materials from the steel industry (electric arc furnace slag, mill scale) that would otherwise be discarded. By processing these waste products into shielding aggregates, the patent creates a cost-effective shielding solution while supporting circular economy principles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If thick layers of shielding material (1.5 cm carbon fiber plaster) are applied to achieve adequate shielding, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but the material thickness and associated costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter from reflection coefficient to magnetic loss factor. Materials with high magnetic losses absorb electromagnetic energy more efficiently, allowing achieving the same shielding effectiveness with much thinner layers compared to conventional reflective materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional building materials are used without modification, then ecological properties and long-term stability are maintained, but electromagnetic shielding capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic wave protectionVSAvoidecological properties and stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite building material by combining iron oxide-containing aggregates with conventional mineral binders (cement, lime, gypsum). This composite approach integrates electromagnetic shielding functionality into traditional ecologically sound building materials, maintaining compatibility with existing construction practices and ecological properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The material achieves significant electromagnetic shielding through absorption, maintaining long-term stability and ecological properties, reducing environmental impact and production costs, while providing high shielding efficiency across a broad frequency range.

Implementation Method 1

The material is characterized by high magnetic losses and a high ratio of magnetic to electric losses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic losses: Magnetic Hysteresis

Implementation Method 2

thermally modified electric furnace slag which has been subjected to thermal treatment under oxidizing conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3218322B1Building material for shielding against electromagnetic waves, method for producing the same and use thereof
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 CE SYS PROD GMBH
  • EP3218322B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~2(b)
  • EP3218322B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3218322B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a building material for shielding against electromagnetic waves by absorption, to a method for producing the same and to the use thereof. The building material contains iron oxide aggregates and mineral binders. Slag from electric furnaces or ground mill scale which is thermally treated before being mixed with the mineral binder is used as the aggregate.