Investigation of electromagnetic wave absorption of concrete containing metakaolin and carbon black

In recent years, with the increasing use of electromagnetic (EM) waves in different industries, environmental protection from the harmful effects of these waves has become particularly important. Concrete as a frequently implemented material for electromagnetic shielding in medical hospitals has been the focus of several investigations. In order to increase the EMI SE of concrete and mortar, different additives have been investigated as supplementary materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of metakaolin (MK) and Carbon Black (CB) to reduce EM pollution in concrete. For this aim, the EM waves passing through the concrete samples by the EM wave generator were detected. Finally, statistical analysis was performed and some prediction equations were proposed. According to the results, CB and MK considerably enhance the Electromagnetic Interface Shielding Effectiveness (EMI SE) and reduce the density of concrete samples. Also, the thickness of concrete samples considerably increased the EMI SE of concrete.