Abstract
Nanostructured polymer composites have opened up new perspectives for multifunctional materials. In particular, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) present potential applications in order to improve mechanical and electrical performance in composites with aerospace application. The combination of epoxy resin with multiwalled carbon nanotubes results in a new functional material with enhanced electromagnetic properties. The objective of this work was the processing of radar absorbing materials based on formulations containing different quantities of carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin matrix. To reach this objective the adequate concentration of CNTs in the resin matrix was determined. The processed structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, rheology, thermal and reflectivity in the frequency range of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz analyses. The microwave attenuation was up to 99.7%, using only 0.5% (w/w) of CNT, showing that these materials present advantages in performance associated with low additive concentrations.
Highlights
The technology that involves the electromagnetic wave absorbing materials is important for a wide variety of applications, ranging from minimizing radar signature of a target, protection of human eyes, optical sensors from intense laser pulses, protective shielding of computers and consumer electronics
The objective of this work was to process nanostructured composite materials based on formulations containing different quantities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin matrix, aiming to determine the adequate quantity of CNT for processing X-band microwave absorbing nanostructured composite
The application of low shear forces has already been shown to greatly enhance the migration of dispersed carbon nanotubes and the resulting network formation at loadings below 1.0% (w/w) in an epoxy matrix[55,56,57,58]. These results indicate that the processing conditions play a crucial role in achieving low percolation thresholds in epoxy systems
Summary
The technology that involves the electromagnetic wave absorbing materials is important for a wide variety of applications, ranging from minimizing radar signature of a target, protection of human eyes, optical sensors from intense laser pulses, protective shielding of computers and consumer electronics. These materials attenuate the incident electromagnetic wave radiation and dissipate the energy absorbed in the form of heat through internal mechanisms, magnetic and/or dielectrics. These loss mechanisms can be physical, chemical or simultaneously both[3,4]. Increased electromagnetic pollution due to the presence of microwaves and the use of stealth technology in defense systems and military platforms have been the major attractions for studies in this area, with investments in research that already cover the frequency
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