Electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties of (Co2+–Si4+) substituted barium hexaferrites and its polymer composite

Abstract

The electromagnetic (EM) and microwave absorption properties of (Co2+–Si4+) substituted barium hexaferrite compositions BaCox2+Fey+2Six+y4+Fe12−2x−2y+3O19 (x=0.9 and y=0.0, 0.05, and 0.2) and its polymer composites prepared from hexaferrite, polyaniline, and carbon powders dispersed in polyurethane matrix have been investigated at the microwave frequency range of the X band (8.2–12.4GHz). The hexaferrite compositions were synthesized by solid-state reaction technique, whereas polyaniline, by chemical route. The permeabilities of a ferrite are drastically reduced at higher gigahertz frequencies. The permittivities, however, can be enhanced by appropriate choice of composition and processing temperature. In the present ferrite composition, silicon content is taken in excess so as to convert some of the Fe3+ ions to Fe2+ ions. This conversion has been shown to enhance EM and absorption properties. Mössbauer spectroscopy on the samples establishes that addition of excess Si4+ converts some of the Fe3+ to Fe2+. The sintered ferrites have shown resonance phenomena, but the composites do not. The EM parameters ε′, ε″, μ′, and μ″ were measured using a vector network analyzer (Agilent, model PNA E8364B). These measured EM parameters were used to determine the absorption spectra at different sample thicknesses based on a model of a single layered plane wave absorber backed by a perfect conductor. The sintered ferrite composition (x=0.9 and y=0.05) showed the best absorption properties [a minimum reflection loss of −17.7to−14.3dB over the whole frequency range of the X band (8.2–12.4) for a sample thickness of just 0.8mm], and it is used in the composite absorbers in powder form along with other constituents. The optimized composite absorber has shown dielectric constant ε′∼11.5, dielectric loss ε″∼2.3, and a minimum reflection loss of −29dB at 10.97GHz with the −20dB bandwidth over the frequency range of 9.7–12.2GHz for a sample thickness of 2.0mm. The magnetic parameters μ′ and μ″ for the composite remained nearly 1 and 0, respectively, throughout the measured frequency range. Both sintered ferrite and composite absorbers can fruitfully be utilized for suppression of electromagnetic interference and reduction of radar signatures (stealth technology).