Radio-Absorbing Materials Based on Polymer Composites and Their Application to Solving the Problems of Electromagnetic Compatibility

Exploring the promising frontiers of barium hexaferrite and barium titanate composites for electromagnetic shielding applications

This study provides a comprehensive synthesis and meticulous examination of barium hexaferrite (BHF), barium titanate (BT), and their respective nanocomposites, unveiling their potential in specific applications, including electromagnetic interference shielding. The successful formation of BHF and BT was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, revealing distinct absorption peaks indicative of the tetragonal configuration of BT and the BHF’s crystal structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicted the unique morphologies and dispersions of particles in the synthesized nanocomposites, with BHF appearing larger (~ 82 nm) than BT (~ 50 nm). Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) findings exhibited an increased resistance to demagnetization with the addition of BT, despite a slight decline at 75% BT concentration due to the non-magnetic nature of BT dominating. Uniquely, the study presented an in-depth analysis of the composites’ conductivity, detailing their non-monotonic behavior across a frequency range. A detailed investigation into the complex permittivity and permeability revealed the composite’s enhanced ability to store and dissipate both electrical and magnetic energy, a function influenced by the concentrations of BT and BHF. A pivotal highlight of this research was the significant achievement of a reflection loss (RL) value of − 45 dB at 9.3 GHz for the composite with 75% BHF, suggesting the composite’s potential as an effective microwave absorber. This study represents a significant step toward designing and optimizing nanocomposites for specific applications in the realm of electromagnetic materials.

Comparison of Carbon-Nanoparticle-Filled Poly(Butylene Succinate-co-Adipate) Nanocomposites for Electromagnetic Applications

Electrostatic dissipative (ESD), anti-static (AS), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are commonly based on commodity fossil-fuel-based plastics. This, in turn, contributes to ever-growing non-biodegradable plastic pollution. Graphene nanoplatelets (GN), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), nanostructured carbon black (NCB), and amorphous carbon black (CB) were utilized as nanofillers to prepare bio-based and biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) nanocomposites. Solvent-cast composites were prepared with 1.1 to 30.0 vol.% nanoparticle loading. The literature mainly focuses on relatively low loadings; therefore, for this research, filler loadings were increased up to 30 vol.% but the maximum loading for NCB and CB loadings only reached 17.4 vol.% due to a lack of dimensional stability at higher loadings. The composites were characterized using tensile testing, volumetric and surface conductivity measurements, thermal conductivity measurements, dielectric spectroscopy in the microwave region, and transmittance in the terahertz range. Tensile tests showed excellent carbon filler compatibility and enhanced tensile strength for loadings up to 5 vol.% (up to 20 vol.% for MWCNT). The highest thermal conductivity values were reached for the MWCNT filler, with the 30.0 vol.% filled composite reaching 0.756 W/mK (262% increase over PBSA). All fillers were able to produce composites that yielded volume conductivities above 10^-10 S/m. Composites with MWCNT, GN, and NCB inclusions above the percolation threshold are suitable for EMI applications in the microwave and THz frequency range.