Abstract
Lightweight multifunctional electromagnetic (EM) absorbing materials with outstanding thermal properties, chemical resistance and mechanical stability are crucial for space, aerospace and electronic devices and packaging. Therefore, 3D porous graphene aerogels are attracting ever growing interest. In this paper we present a cost effective lightweight 3D porous graphene-based aerogel for EM wave absorption, constituted by a poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer matrix filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and we show that the thermal, electrical, mechanical properties of the aerogel can be tuned through the proper selection of the processing temperature, controlled either at 65 °C or 85 °C. The produced GNP-filled aerogels are characterized by exceptional EM properties, allowing the production of absorbers with 9.2 GHz and 6.4 GHz qualified bandwidths with reflection coefficients below −10 dB and −20 dB, respectively. Moreover, such aerogels show exceptional thermal conductivities without any appreciable volume change after temperature variations. Finally, depending on the process parameters, it is shown the possibility to obtain water repellent aerogel composites, thus preventing their EM and thermal properties from being affected by environmental humidity and allowing the realization of EM absorber with a stable response.
Highlights
Lightweight multifunctional electromagnetic (EM) absorbing materials with outstanding thermal properties, chemical resistance and mechanical stability are crucial for space, aerospace and electronic devices and packaging
We show that the proper setting of the processing temperature while mixing poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-DMF solution and PVDF enable to tune the thermal, electrical, mechanical properties of the aerogel, since it affects the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) into the polymer matrix
They are characterized by a GNP content varying between zero and 15% wt. with respect to the PVDF amount and by two different process temperatures, namely 65 °C and 85 °C
Summary
Lightweight multifunctional electromagnetic (EM) absorbing materials with outstanding thermal properties, chemical resistance and mechanical stability are crucial for space, aerospace and electronic devices and packaging. Varieties of carbon-based conductive polymer composites have been widely investigated in order to replace conventional absorbing materials, since they combine good mechanical and electrical properties with typical polymeric characteristics, such as lightweight, high formability and resistance against corrosion[8]. The first ones are generally characterized by excellent EM properties but low mechanical properties, flexibility, ductility and thermal stability[15] Their production process often requires the use of dangerous chemicals, such as acids or bases, and, can be quite expensive
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