Integrated MCDM techniques for the selection of hybrid MWCNT/Ni–Zn–Fe nanocomposites for X-band radar absorption applications

Abstract

In the 21st century, microwave-absorbing materials are used in a wide range of applications, such as in anechoic chambers and as electromagnetic interference shielding materials in radar and wireless communications. The design and development of new microwave-absorbing materials require substantial resources such as time, raw materials, and energy, and need to be cost-effective. Judicious selection of radar-absorbing materials from available alternatives often becomes difficult because it involves conflicting and non-commensurate attributes, such as bandwidth, reduced reflection loss, and thickness. This study aims to design and select novel double-layered multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/ Ni–Zn–Fe (NZF) microwave-absorbing materials using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, and PROMETHEE-II. Single-layered microwave-absorbing materials with various compositions of MWCNT and NZF were prepared using a low-cost and facilein-situpolymerization process. The multi-layered radar-absorbing materials reflection loss was determined using transmission line theory. Subjective and objective criteria weights from the analytical hierarchy process, entropy methods, and their calculated combined weights were utilized to implement the MCDM techniques. The combination of MWCNT/NZF radar-absorbing materials was chosen using integrated MCDM methods as the preferred microwave-absorbing material with a reflection loss of −15 dB for a 2.6 GHz bandwidth and a maximum reflection loss of –22 dB at 9.6 GHz in the X-band.