Zentek Ltd. has filed a provisional patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering ZEN-EMI-01, a water-based electromagnetic interference shielding coating produced from purified graphite originating from the company's Albany deposit. The filing establishes a priority date and initiates a twelve-month window to file international and national patent applications.

The Albany Graphite Project in Northern Ontario serves as Zentek's principal critical minerals asset, held through Albany Graphite Corp. Conventional electromagnetic interference shielding typically relies on reflective metal or metal-filled materials to bounce electromagnetic energy away. In contrast, ZEN-EMI-01 is engineered to absorb incoming electromagnetic energy inside the coating as a small amount of heat rather than reflecting it into the surrounding environment.

The formulation combines purified graphite from the Albany deposit for electrical conductivity, magnetic ferrite particles to provide a magnetic absorbing effect, and a conductive polymer. Internal laboratory testing on a layer approximately the thickness of two sheets of paper demonstrated significant reduction of microwave frequencies in the 8 to 12 GHz X-band, primarily through absorption rather than reflection. These preliminary results remain at the laboratory stage and have not yet been independently verified.

The development program over the coming year will subject the coating to third-party verified shielding effectiveness testing under a recognized standard method, alongside formulation optimization across ferrite loading, conductive polymer content, layer architecture, and coating thickness. Additional work will cover application, durability, and substrate testing using conventional spray equipment, together with benchmarking against commercial shielding products and scale-up of the manufacturing processes. Zentek has no agreements with customers and notes there is no assurance that the development program will result in a commercial product or that patent protection will be granted.

“ZEN-EMI-01 is a paint. It can be applied to shapes and surfaces that are difficult to shield with metal, and it absorbs electromagnetic energy rather than reflecting it toward neighbouring systems. It is made from purified graphite from our Albany deposit in Canada, which is another potential strategic application for our deposit.”

— Moe Jiwan, Chief Executive Officer

Further development and commercial evaluation work will continue across these defined technical milestones as the company advances the coating platform toward qualified end users.

Read the full announcement: Zentek Files Provisional Patent Application for Absorption-Based EMI Shielding Coating Made from Albany Graphite