Upgrading on cement-mortar properties for electromagnetic wave shielding in buildings

Due to the fast development of wireless equipment from telecommunication industry, more powerful emitted waves with broader bands are everywhere in our daily life now. Due to the risk exposed to an environment full of emitted electromagnetic waves, this study tries to find means to improve the regular living environment by reducing the reflection of emitted electromagnetic waves in a confined space but yet, keeping the accessibility of living appliance. The idea in this study is to improve the absorption or dissipation capability for the electromagnetic waves of the cement mortar, a material the most widely applied to the finishing work of walls in buildings. Based on previous studies, bamboo-charcoal an old material with new applications may have absorption abilities for emitted waves. It was also found from our studies that a small amount of replacement of the fine aggregate with bamboo-charcoal in the cement mortar would not affect the strength of the material.