Enhanced electromagnetic shielding property of cf/mullite composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract

Abstract Aiming to prepare high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, chopped carbon fibers were incorporated into mullite ceramic matrix via rapid prototyping process of spark plasma sintering (SPS). Results indicate that Cf/mullite composites with only 1 wt% of carbon fibers exhibit highest shielding effectiveness (SET) over 40 dB at a small thickness of 2.0 mm, showing great advantages both in terms of performance and thickness compared with many mature carbon/ceramic composites. The high EMI shielding properties mainly depend on two mechanisms of absorption and reflection in this present work. The enhanced absorption and reflection of electromagnetic wave are ascribed to the promotional electrical conductivity arising from the formation of conductive network by introduction of carbon fibers. Regarding enhanced electrical conductivity, notable intensified interfacial polarization on a large number of interfaces between mullite matrix and carbon fibers is also the key factor to the improved absorption, which makes absorption play a dominant role in the significant improvement of EMI SET. The Cf/mullite composites with excellent EMI shielding properties and thin thickness show great potential application as EMI materials.