Electromagnetic shielding textiles are a class of functional textile materials that can block or weaken the propagation of electromagnetic waves. When electromagnetic waves come into contact with their surface, they typically undergo processes such as reflection, absorption, and multiple reflections, causing the electromagnetic energy to gradually attenuate. These textiles combine the advantages of softness, lightness, breathability, and ease of processing, and are widely used in fields such as information security, personal health protection, and electromagnetic compatibility of electronic devices, effectively reducing the potential impact of electromagnetic radiation on human health, sensitive equipment, and the overall electromagnetic environment. Based on different processing characteristics, electromagnetic shielding textiles can be divided into several categories, including conductive fiber blends, surface-modified types, and filled composite types.
Conductive Fiber Blends
These blends typically combine conductive fibers with conventional natural or synthetic fibers to create blended yarns with excellent conductivity. These yarns are then woven according to specific weave structures and specifications to produce knitted or woven products with electromagnetic radiation shielding capabilities. Commonly used conductive fibers include metal fibers (stainless steel wire, silver wire, copper wire, etc.), fibers with surface metal coatings, intrinsically conductive polymer fibers, and carbon fibers. The electromagnetic shielding performance of blended fabrics depends on the properties of the conductive fibers themselves, the synergistic effect between fibers, and the fabric structure. Electromagnetic shielding textiles prepared using these blends generally possess advantages such as high physical strength and stable electromagnetic shielding performance, making them widely applicable. Currently, more research focuses on improving the wearing comfort of blended fiber electromagnetic shielding textiles, such as using core-spun yarn structures with conductive fibers as the core layer and conventional fibers as the outer layer, to further enhance the softness and feel of the textiles.
Electromagnetic shielding fabrics have been developed and applied for more than 30 years, covering military, industrial and civilian uses. Examples include military camouflage nets, military tents, electronic instrument materials, fabrics for live-line work clothes, electromagnetic environment radiation protection work clothes, as well as currently widely used electromagnetic wave radiation protection maternity wear and youth vests. For different special industrial electromagnetic radiation environments, the application scenarios and new fabric development of multifunctional electromagnetic shielding fabrics mainly include the following aspects:
(1) For military supplies such as military camouflage nets, shielding cannon covers, military tents, and radar protection clothing, new fabrics can be developed by combining camouflage and radar stealth functions;
(2) For fieldwork radiation protection work clothes, new fabrics can be developed by combining waterproof, breathable, windproof, cold-resistant, and UV-resistant functions;
(3) For work clothes in special places such as power plants, high-voltage transmission lines, fire fighting, metallurgy, steel, and welding, new fabrics can be developed by combining high-temperature resistance, flame retardancy, and heat insulation functions;
(4) For work clothes in high-purity environments such as electronic component production and testing, computer rooms, and communication transmission systems, new fabrics can be developed by combining the requirements of high-density cleanroom clothing;
(5) For civilian radiation protection clothing that blocks electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones, computers, and other household appliances, new fabrics can be developed by combining the requirements of softness, breathability, antibacterial properties, coolness, cleanliness, and aesthetics.
References
[1] Zhang Renle, He Weixing, Hua Dong, et al. Classification, production and prospects of electromagnetic shielding fabrics [J]. Textile Report, 2022, 41(04): 21-23.
References
[1] Tan Xueqiang, Yan Zongyao, Liu Jiayin, et al. New progress in the research of electromagnetic shielding fabrics [J]. Tianjin Textile Science and Technology, 2021(2): 57-60.
[2] Xia Haoyu, Dai Wei, Li Wangjun, et al. Research progress in electromagnetic shielding fabrics [J]. Journal of Textile Engineering, 2024, 2(6): 66-78.
[3] Zhou Ziying, Liu Ningjuan, Jia Ke, et al. Research progress in electromagnetic shielding fabrics [J]. Industrial Textiles, 2020, 38(10): 1-5.
