Preparation and Characterization of Electromagnetic Shielding Composites Based on Graphene-Nanosheets-Loaded Nonwoven Fabric

Development of Electromagnetic Shielding Composites Reinforced with Nonwovens Produced from Recycled Fibers

As a light-weight solution for electromagnetic shielding, this paper aims to investigate the development of electrically conductive composites that shield from electromagnetic radiation while providing sustainability by using recycled fibers in the structure of nonwoven reinforcement materials. The main novelty of this research is the conversion of waste fabrics into functional composites via a fast and inexpensive method. For this purpose, waste fabrics were recycled into fibers, and the recycled fibers were processed into needle-punched nonwovens to be used as reinforcement materials for electromagnetic shielding composites. Electrically conductive composite structures were obtained by adding copper (II) sulfate and graphite conductive particles with different ratios to polyester resin. The hand lay-up method was used for the production of composites. Electromagnetic shielding, electrical resistivity, and some mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results were analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS software version 18. The results have shown that up to 31.43 dB of electromagnetic shielding effectiveness was obtained in the 1-6 GHz frequency range. This result corresponds to a very good grade for general use and a moderate grade for professional use, according to FTTS-FA-003, exceeding the acceptable range for industrial and commercial applications of 20 dB. The composites developed in this research are good candidates to be used in various general and professional applications, such as plastic parts in household applications, electronic industry, building and construction industries, and other applications where light weight shielding materials are needed.

Preparation of water-dispersed monolayer LDH nanosheets by SMA intercalation to hinder the restacking upon redispersion in water

We present a novel method for preparing water-dispersed monolayer layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets (m-LDH). By intercalating styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) into LDH, we obtained m-LDH through a simple aging step that produced stable, translucent colloidal solutions. After drying, the resulting powder can be redispersed in water to recover the m-LDH monolayer structure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immediate recovery of the m-LDH monolayer structure from dried powder after redispersion in water. Our method may have significant implications for preparing and utilizing m-LDH nanosheets in various applications.

Wood-Based Composites with High Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness and Ultra-Low Reflection

With the aggravation of electromagnetic radiation pollution, it is urgent to develop green, lightweight, ultra-thin and high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding materials to eliminate unnecessary electromagnetic interference; however, the construction of wood-based high-performance electromagnetic shielding materials by simple methods remains a challenge. Based on the layer-by-layer assembly strategy, a lightweight Ni/Wood/Ni composite (NWNC) with an interlayer structure was constructed by a simple electroless plating method using natural wood as a substrate for electromagnetic interference shielding. The synthesized NWNC has a smooth surface, and its minimum surface roughness is only 8.34 μm. After 15 min of electroless nickel plating, the contact angle (CA) of NWNC with an ultra-thin nickel layer (65 μm) was 118.3°. When the thickness of the nickel layer is only 0.102 mm, the conductivity can reach 1659.59 S/cm when the three electroless nickel plating time is 15 min. In the L-band, the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness can reach 94.1 dB after three times electroless nickel plating for 20 min. This is due to the conductive loss, magnetic loss and interface polarization loss generated by the electromagnetic network constructed by the nickel layer, which makes the composite material produce an electromagnetic shielding mechanism dominated by absorption. The L-band absorption efficiency can reach 39.01 dB, and due to the porous structure of the original wood, the multiple reflection and absorption inside the wood further lose the electromagnetic wave. This study provides a low-cost and simple method for the design of light, ultra-thin and efficient controllable wood-based electromagnetic shielding materials and has broad application prospects in the fields of construction and aerospace.

Experimental Study on Electromagnetic Shielding Characteristics of a Fe-Based Amorphous Soft Magnetic Composite

An Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic composite with flexibility and elasticity was fabricated to shield harmful electromagnetic waves in industrial and military defense applications. Through the combination and structural arrangement of the amorphous soft magnetic sheet and the conductive sheet, the inlet (POE) form of electromagnetic waves was artificially diversified, and shielding performance was measured according to the criteria of MIL-STD-188-125-1 in the range from 1 kHz to 10 GHz, in consideration of the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection. As a result, the shielding effectiveness of 80 dB was achieved in a triple “sandwiched” structure by alternately stacking an iron-based amorphous soft magnetic material on top of a flexible conductive sheet at a 90-degree angle, rather than in parallel.

Electromagnetic Shielding and Flame Retardancy of Composite Films Constructed with Cellulose and Graphene Nanoplates

Aimed at improving the electromagnetic (EM) shielding and flame retardancy of cellulose materials, graphene (GE) nanoplates were introduced into cellulose matrix films by blending in1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The structure and performance of the obtained composite films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, EM shielding effectiveness (SE), and combustion tests. GE introduction formed and stacked laminated structures in the films after drying due to controlled shrinkage of the cellulose matrix. The lamination of GE nanoplates into the films was beneficial for providing EM shielding due to multiple internal reflection of EM radiation; furthermore, they also increased flame resistance based on the “labyrinth effect.” The SE of these composite films increased gradually with increased GE content and reached 22.3 dB under an incident frequency of 1500 MHz. TG analysis indicated that these composite films possessed improved thermal stability due to GE addition. Reduced flammability was confirmed by their extended times to ignition or inability to be ignited, reduced heat release rates observed in cone calorimetry tests, and increased limiting oxygen index values. These films with improved EM shielding and flame retardancy could be considered potential candidates for multipurpose materials in various applications, such as electronics and radar evasion.

A Novel Processing for CNT-Reinforced Mg-Matrix Laminated Composites to Enhance the Electromagnetic Shielding Property

The microstructure, electrical conductivity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) of CNTs/Mg Matrix composites prepared by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) were systematically investigated to understand the effects of CNTs on the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness property of magnesium. A model based on the shielding of the electromagnetic plane wave was used to theoretically discuss the EMI shielding mechanisms of ARB-processed composites. The experimental results indicated that the methods were feasible to prepare laminated composites. The SE of the material increased gradually with the increase of electrophoretic deposition time. When the electrophoretic deposition time reached 8 min, the value of SE remained 87–95 dB in the frequency range of 8.2–12.4 GHz. The increase in SE was mainly attributed to the improvement in the reflection and multiple reflection losses of incident electromagnetic wave due to the increased amounts of CNTs and interfaces. The methods provided an efficient strategy to produce laminated metal matrix composites with high electromagnetic shielding properties.

Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Behavior of Magnetic Carbon Fibers Prepared by Electroless FeCoNi-Plating

In this study, soft magnetic metal was coated on carbon fibers (CFs) using an electroless FeCoNi-plating method to enhance the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of CFs. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and a vibrating sample magnetometer were employed to determine the morphologies, structural properties, and magnetic properties of the FeCoNi-CFs, respectively. The EMI shielding behavior of the FeCoNi-CFs was investigated in the frequency range of 300 kHz to 3 GHz through vector network analysis. The EMI shielding properties of the FeCoNi-CFs were significantly enhanced compared with those of the as-received CFs. The highest EMI shielding effectiveness of the 60-FeCoNi-CFs was approximately 69.4 dB at 1.5 GHz. The saturation magnetization and coercivity of the 60-FeCoNi-CFs were approximately 103.2 emu/g and 46.3 Oe, respectively. This indicates that the presence of FeCoNi layers on CFs can lead to good EMI shielding due to the EMI adsorption behavior of the magnetic metal layers.