Evaluation of the shielding properties of fabrics protecting against electromagnetic radiation

The object of research is shielding antistatic fabrics containing Bekinox steel fibers. The objective of the work is to determine the shielding efficiency of fabrics containing Bekinox steel fibers, providing a given level of shielding properties, for subsequent consideration of the information obtained when developing a technique for designing fabrics for special purposes. The optimal distance between electrically conductive threads was selected for the production of fabric with shielding properties, which allows creating the best reflective effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the fabric. As a result of statistical processing of experimental data, a mathematical model was developed that describes the dependence of the fabrics shielding efficiency coefficient on the distance between electrically conductive threads of Bekinox steel fibers in the warp and weft of 5 mm and 10 mm. When analyzing the test results of shielding fabrics, it was found that under UHF radiation only 4-layered fabrics can be used with the distance between electrically conductive yarns of 5 mm, they have sufficient shielding ability. With an increase in the radiation frequency to 18 GHz, the shielding ability of fabrics decreases to 25 dB. Consequently, these investigated fabrics can be used as a radio absorbing material with protective properties in the microwave range.