NOVELTY - A blown polymer foam layer (L1) comprises first surface and an opposite second surface; several foam cells between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer, where the thickness of the polymer foam layer between the first surface and the opposite second surface is 1-1.5 times the average diameter, in z-direction, of the foam cells; and several electrically conductive particles aligned into columns that essentially continuously span the foam between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer.    USE - As article in the form of a gasket for electromagnetic shielding, grounding pad, or battery contact conductive spring element (claimed), cell phones, personal digital assistants, computers, medical diagnostics, electronic goods such as cassette and digital versatile disk players. Other uses include applications such as automobiles, ships, and aircraft.    ADVANTAGE - The polymer foam has excellent electrical conductivity using lower levels of electrically conductive filler; has improved compressibility and processability, particularly without significant adverse effect on at least one physical property, particularly compression set and/or softness. The foam layers are used to provide thermal conductivity and good mechanical properties, particularly good sealing properties.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) manufacturing (M1) polymer foam layer involving forming layer having first surface and an opposite second surface, where the layer containing polymer foam precursor composition; and filler composition containing several electrically conductive particles; and foaming the foam precursor composition to form several cells in the layer and align the electrically conductive particles into several columns between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the layer; and curing the foamed layer, where the thickness of the cured layer is 1-1.5 times the average height of the cells in the cured layer;    (2) manufacturing silicone foam involving extruding a mixture containing polysiloxane polymer having hydride substituents, blowing agent, platinum based catalyst, and filler composition containing several electrically conductive particles; and blowing and curing the mixture to align the electrically conductive particles into several columns that essentially continuously span the foam between first surface and second opposite surface of the foam, where the thickness of the foam is 1-1.5 times the average height of the cells in the cured layer;    (3) manufacturing polymer foam involving metering and/or casting composition containing polysiloxane polymer having hydride substituents, blowing agent, platinum based catalyst, and several electrically conductive particles into mold or continuous coating line; foaming the composition to provide foam having first surface and an opposite second surface to align the electrically conductive particles into several columns that essentially continuously span the foam between the first surface and the second surface of the foam, where the thickness of the foam is 1-1.5 times the average height of the cells in the cured layer; and    (4) article (A1) comprising the foam layer (L1).