Spray-On Concrete That Protects Electronic Devices from EMP Attacks

Over supply of electromagnetic energy can easily disrupt even the biggest electronic systems threatening critical infrastructure, national security, power grids, data centers, and all associated electronic devices. A team of researchers working at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently came up with a cost-effective solution to this problem. They developed a special type of concrete that can insulate the electronic systems from electromagnetic pulses (EPMs). Structures with a coating of this concrete on outer level or inner level can be protected from EMP very effectively.

The technology is very much in final stage and will be soon available for commercialization. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently signed an agreement with American Business Continuity Group LLC to license this technology. The company happens to be a known maker of disaster-resistant structures. According to Christopher Tuan, a civil engineering professor, “EMP is very lethal to electronic equipment. We found a key ingredient that dissipates wave energy. This technology offers a lot of advantages so the construction industry is very interested.”

The concept of EMP-shielding concrete came from Nguyen’s and Tuan’s partnership that made a study of electricity conducting concrete. They first moved ahead to develop their own patented conductive concrete that melts ice and snow from surfaces and then moved on to develop another kind of concrete that blocks electromagnetic radiations. The technology works both ways; it reflects as well as absorbs electromagnetic waves. The team recently replaced a few concrete aggregates with their basic ingredient – magnetite. Magnetite is a mineral that comes with magnetic properties that can absorb microwaves like a sponge slice. The recipe they used for this purpose includes metal and carbon components that encourage better reflection as well as absorption. Their new ability to both reflect and absorb electromagnetic waves increases the effectiveness of this concrete as compared to all pre-existing shielding technologies.