Cement mortar with graphene addition for electromagnetic shielding
Graphene, electromagnetic field, mortar, armour
With regard to the durability of reinforced concrete structures, the standards relate to the environment in which the work is located, and for each environment there is a specified design criterion, with criteria on the cover and even the use of special concrete. Extending the useful life of reinforced concrete structures has an economic impact on both the private and public sectors. A topic that has received little attention is the action exerted by the electromagnetic field generated by electrical equipment on reinforced concrete structures. This paper presents a mortar containing graphene to shield reinforced concrete structures from the influence of the electromagnetic field generated by power transformers. A comparative case study and two practical examples are presented, demonstrating the action of the electromagnetic field on reinforced concrete structures. The development of a mortar for electromagnetic shielding showed that the control sample, with 0.00% graphene and an electromagnetic field reading of 11.48 μT, had its electromagnetic field reduced to 8.68 μT by using 0.05% graphene in relation to the weight of cement. The results are promising for the development of a mortar for shielding electromagnetic emissions in reinforced concrete structures, and its application is not limited to transformers, but to all electrical equipment that may generate an electromagnetic field.