Development of Low Density, Heat Resistant and Broadband Microwave Absorbing Materials (MAMs) for Stealth Applications

Abstract

The development of low density and broadband microwave absorbers are the need of the hour to cater for the needs of all military platforms for stealth technology. The low density and broadband properties can be inculcated in microwave absorbers using dielectric lossy materials (e.g. carbon fibres, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, fullerene, graphite, graphene and silicon carbide fibre). Therefore, we designed low density and heat resistant microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) using a novel approach of ceramic fibre board manufacturing technology. The microwave absorbing composites were prepared with varying percentage of milled carbon fibres, discontinuous aluminosilicate fibres and silicone resin as the matrix. The physico-mechanical properties of microwave absorbing composites were determined. Reflection loss of microwave absorbing composites was measured in the frequency range 2–18 GHz by unique single horn interferometry technique. The electromagnetic properties were measured in X-band using free space measurement system. Based on these properties the effect of thickness on the microwave absorbing properties in X-band was simulated The effect of weight % variation of milled carbon fibres on the microwave absorbing properties of composites have been studied in the frequency range 2–18 GHz.