Electromagnetic field absorbing composition

A method of providing absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a selected frequency on a surface structure or body or portions thereof, comprising the steps of

• determining the selected frequency,
• applying at least one coat of electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition at a thickness which selectively absorbs at said frequency or an appliqué film comprising the electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition, to a first side of said surface structure or body or portions thereof,
• and drying the electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition,
• wherein the electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition comprises a carbon filler substantially consisting of machined elongate carbon elements with an average longest dimension in the range of 100 to 150 microns, with a thickness in the range of 1 to 15 microns, wherein the total carbon filler content is present in the range of from 2 to 10 volume % dried, in a non conductive binder, and wherein the binder is selected from an acrylate, an epoxy binder, an acrylic, a urethane and epoxy-modified acrylic, a polyurethane, an alkyd, a modified alkyd, a fluoropolymer, and mixtures thereof,
• wherein the electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition after the drying step has a dielectric loss tangent that is configured to absorb microwave radiation, the dielectric loss tangent being a ratio of an imaginary component of complex permittivity to a real component of complex permittivity,
• wherein the method further comprises applying at least one or more sub-layers, each of which have been separately applied in an orthogonal direction to the preceding layer.