Electrical,rheological and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotube composites

Electrically conducting rubbery composites based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared through melt blending using a torque rheometer equipped with a mixing chamber. The electrical conductivity, morphology, rheological properties and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the TPU/CNT composites were evaluated and also compared with those of carbon black (CB)‐filled TPU composites prepared under the same processing conditions. For both polymer systems, the insulator–conductor transition was very sharp and the electrical percolation threshold at room temperature was at CNT and CB contents of about 1.0 and 1.7 wt%, respectively. The EMI SE over the X‐band frequency range (8–12 GHz) for TPU/CNT and TPU/CB composites was investigated as a function of filler content. EMI SE and electrical conductivity increased with increasing amount of conductive filler, due to the formation of conductive pathways in the TPU matrix. TPU/CNT composites displayed higher electrical conductivity and EMI SE than TPU/CB composites with similar conductive filler content. EMI SE values found for TPU/CNT and TPU/CB composites containing 10 and 15 wt% conductive fillers, respectively, were in the range ?22 to ?20 dB, indicating that these composites are promising candidates for shielding applications. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of polyaniline–ethylene vinyl acetate composites

Electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness at microwave (200–2000 MHz) and X‐band (8–12 GHz) frequency range of polyaniline (PAni) composites were studied. It has been observed that EMI shielding of conductive polyaniline (PAni)–ethylene vinyl acetate composites increases with the increase in the loading levels of the conductive polymer doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. The result indicates that the composites having higher PAni loading (>23%) can be used for EMI shielding materials and those with lower PAni loading can be used for the dissipation of electrostatic charge. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Electrical and electromagnetic shielding behavior of laminated epoxy–carbon fiber composite

This paper reports results on the electrical properties of laminated epoxy composite containing 25 layers of carbon fibers in the form of mats. The dependence of the activation energy (calculated from DC resistivity measurements) on temperature reveals two independent conduction processes. The AC impedance is independent of the applied frequency below 75°C, and the real componet of the dielectric constant is also independent of temperature at high frequencies. The determined shielding effectiveness is dominated by the insertion loss. The observed optimum shielding effectiveness occurs at 30 mm spacing and applied frequency 9 GHz.     

Facile preparation of light-weight biodegradable and electrically conductive polymer based nanocomposites for superior electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness

Harmful electromagnetic radiations that are generated from different electronic devices could be absorbed by a light weight and mechanically flexible good electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding polymer nanocomposite. On the other hand, different electronic wastes (“e-wastes”) which are generally polymer building materials generated from wastes of dysfunctional electronic devices are not naturally biodegradable. Our recent effort has been employed to produce bio-degradable EMI shielding polymer nanocomposite. For that purpose, we had prepared a 50:50 ratio polylactic acid/thermoplastic polyurethane polymer nanocomposite by mixing the conducting carbon black with the blend following the facile and industrially feasible solution mixing method. Morphological characterizations by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the co-continuous morphology of the neat blend as well as polymer nanocomposites with the preferential distribution of conductive filler on a particular polymer phase. The polymer nanocomposites gave good mechanically with improved thermal properties. We got EMI shielding effectiveness around −27 dB with a low percolation threshold at around 30 wt% filler loading in the polymer nanocomposite at the X-band frequency domain (8.2–12.4 GHz). Later we had studied the biodegradability of the PLA/TPU along with their composites (T_XP_XC_X) by employing the respirometry method and got a satisfactory result to ensure their biodegradability.     

Optically transparent polymer composites: A study on the influence of filler/dopant on electromagnetic interference shielding mechanism

Composite materials made of polymers and carbon-based ferromagnetic filler are attractive for electromagnetic interference shielding through a combination of reflection and microwave absorption. It is possible to enhance their shielding properties by controlling electrical conductivity, dielectric, and magnetic properties. In this work, the aforementioned properties are tailored to achieve optically transparent films with microwave absorbing properties. Nanocarbon materials, namely carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons (GNR) and their ferromagnetic nanocomposites with Fe₃O₄ and cobalt in PVA-PEDOT:PSS matrix were made and tested in X-band. The highest shielding effectiveness for PVA films with nanocarbon filler was observed for 0.5 wt% GNR − Fe₃O₄ at 16.36 dB (9.7 GHz) with 79.8% transmittance.     

Modification of sisal fiber by in situ coating steam explosion and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of sisal fiber/PP composites

The technology of steam explosion was adopted to modify sisal fiber (SF) material and two different carbon particles, expanded graphite and conductive carbon black (CCB), were in situ coated on the surface of SF during steam explosion process. The DC conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) of the modified SF/polypropylene (PP) composites were studied and the measurement of electromagnetic interference (EMI) SE was conducted in two frequency ranges of 400–1,000 MHz and 1–18 GHz. The experimental results showed that this novel coating technology could improve the SE of the modified SF/PP composites significantly, which has a strong dependence on the loadings of the expanded graphite modified sisal fiber (SF‐EG) and conductive carbon black modified sisal fiber (SF‐CCB). When the loadings of SF‐EG and SF‐CCB reached 50 wt%, the maximum values of the SE were 33 dB and 51 dB, respectively. For the modified SF/PP composites, the experimental EMI SE values are in good correlation with the theoretical calculation values in far field of electromagnetic radiation. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1038–1043, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Novel V‐shaped negative temperature coefficient of conductivity thermistors and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness from butyl rubber–loaded boron carbide ceramic composites

The presentation of a new conductive composite with good effective applications like negative and positive temperature coefficient of conductivity thermistors (i.e., V‐shaped thermistors) and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI) was the aim of this study. The effect of boron carbide (B₄C) contents on the vulcanization characteristics and network structure of butyl rubber (IIR) composites were analyzed in detail. The prediction of the type of crosslinks based on the affine and phantom network theory was also analyzed. The influence of the volume fraction of B₄C on the dc conductivity and thermoelectric power was investigated. The electrical and dielectric properties of IIR composites were investigated. The results suggest that the conduction occurs by a tunneling mechanism and behaves as a p‐type semiconductor. Isothermal resistance at different temperatures, as a function of B₄C content, was displayed. The current–voltage characteristics showed properties of switches, which were explained by coulombic repulsive force. For practical applications, as self‐electrical heating the temperature–time cycles were investigated under certain applied power. It was found that increasing the B₄C content increases the thermal stability of the composite. However, the theoretical modeling of the current–voltage characteristic is very useful for planning groups in industrial applications of conducting polymer composites. Furthermore, the endurance test under applied power indicates that the proposed composites could be useful as temperature sensors with good reliability. Specific heat as a function of B₄C contents was evaluated by experimental and various energy balance models. Furthermore, the temperature dependency of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity were investigated. Finally, the standing wave ratio, reflection coefficient, return loss, and attenuation of IIR/B₄C composites were studied in the 1‐ to 4‐GHz frequency range. The resulting values of electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness were compared with theoretical models. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91:2756–2770, 2004     

Developing electrically conductive polypropylene/polyamide6/carbon black composites with microfibrillar morphology

We have established that the PP/PA6/CB composite with 3D microfibrillar conducting network can be prepared in situ using melt spinning process. CB particles preferably were localized at the interface between polypropylene as the matrix and PA6 microfibrils, which act as the conducting paths inside the matrix. The percolation threshold of the system reduced when aspect ratio of the conducting phase was increased by developing microfibrillar morphology. The effect of annealing process on the conductivity of PP/PA6/CB composite with co‐ continuous and microfibrillar morphologies was studied. It was observed that, annealing process forces CB particles towards the interface (2D space) of PP and PA6 co‐continuous phases, and percolation threshold and critical exponent of classical percolation theory will be decreased, while the conductivity of conducting composite with microfibrillar morphology was not affected considerably by annealing process at temperatures either higher or lower than the melting point of the PA6 microfibrils. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Fabrication and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of carbon nanotube reinforced carbon fiber/pyrolytic carbon composites

Carbon nanotube reinforced carbon fiber/pyrolytic carbon composites were fabricated by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis method and their electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) was investigated over the frequency range of 8.2–12.4 GHz (X-band). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were in situ formed through catalyzing hydrocarbon gases evaporating out of phenolic resin with nano-scaled Ni particles. The content of CNTs increased with the increase of Ni loadings (0.00, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.25 wt.%) in phenolic resin. Thermal gravimetrical analysis results showed that the carbon yield of phenolic resin increased with the addition of Ni catalyst. With the formation of CNTs, the EMI SE increased from 28.3 to 75.2 dB in X-band. The composite containing 5.0 wt.% CNTs showed an SE higher than 70 dB in the whole X-band.     

Low percolation threshold and high conductivity in carbon black filled polyethylene and polypropylene composites

High electrically conductive composites have been manufactured using twin and single screw extruders from carbon black with polyolefin. High density, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene/polypropylene copolymer, and maleic anhydrite grafted polypropylene have been compounded with three carbon blacks (CBs), i.e., Black Pearl, Printex, and Ketjen, respectively. The lowest percolation threshold (0.8 vol %) for conductive composite was obtained using Ketjen CB blended with high density polyethylene (HD3690, MFI = 36 g/10 min). Polypropylene composites also achieved low percolation thresholds of 1.5 vol % when compounded with Printex or Ketjen CB. Decreasing melt viscosity of polymer matrix resulted in decreasing resistivity of composites. Ketjen CB showed the best conductive behavior for both polyethylene and polypropylene composites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Comparative study on electrical properties of copper nanowire/polypropylene and carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites

Nanocomposites using copper nanowires (CuNWs) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as fillers with polypropylene (PP) as matrix were prepared by miscible solution mixing and precipitation method. Comparative studies on electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding properties were reported. On the conductivity curve, a plateau was found for both CuNW/PP composite and CNT/PP composite. The plateaus are located at a different concentration range for each composite type: for CuNW/PP composite, it is between 0.8 and 1.7 vol %, while for CNT/PP composite the plateau occurs in a narrower range between 0.4 and 0.6 vol %. The shielding effectiveness (SE) increases with increased concentration of fillers. CNT/PP composite has higher SE at concentrations less than 2 vol %; the two curves cross near 10 dB at this point and at concentrations higher than 2 vol %, CuNW/PP composite has higher SE. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 296–303, 2015     

Preparation and characterization of electromagnetic interference shielding polyimide foam

This article focused on the preparation and characterization of ultralight and high‐temperature resistant polyimide foam (PIF) for electromagnetic interference shielding. PIF was first prepared based on a one‐pot process by the primary reactions of derivatives of pyromellitic dianhydride and polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate. Then, PIFs with silver (0) coating were then prepared by spraying silver (0) on the surfaces of PIF through physical spraying method. The surface density of silver coating was 0.18 kg/m², and the densities of silver‐coated PIFs were less than 23 kg/m³. The scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDX) measurement were carried out to investigate the morphological and chemical properties of uncoated and coated PIFs. For coated PIFs, the EDX spectrums indicated increasing higher silver proportions from interior to exterior surface, together with increasing higher carbon proportions from exterior surface to interior. Thermogravimetry/Fourier transform infrared instrument that combined thermogravimetric analysis with pyrolysis product analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to investigate the thermal stability and pyrolysis products of uncoated and coated PIFs. The results indicated that the thermal properties of silver‐coated PIFs were improved obviously with the 5% weight loss temperature higher than 400°C and the residual weight retentions at 800°C ～ 80%. In the frequency range 200–7000 MHz, the EMI shielding efficiency with one surface and two surfaces coated with silver were in the range of 36.4–60.7 dB and 61.6–95.6 dB, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

AAS/GPNs电磁屏蔽复合材料的制备及其性能

对石墨烯进行功能化改性,以丙烯腈-丙烯酸丁酯-苯乙烯共聚物(AAS)为基体,采用溶液分散法制备了AAS/功能化石墨烯(GPNs)复合材料,并研究了其性能.结果表明:GPNs与AAS基体融合性和结合力均较好;AAS/GPNs复合材料的耐候性远优于丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯共聚物/石墨烯复合材料;GPNs用量为0.5％(w)时...     

Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of hybrid multifunctional Fe3O4/carbon nanofiber composite

Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of multifunctional Fe₃O₄/carbon nanofiber composites in the X-band region (8.2–12.4 GHz) is studied. Here, we examine the contributing effects of various parameters such as Fe₃O₄ content, carbonization temperature and thickness on total shielding efficiency (SE_total) of different samples. The maximum EMI SE of 67.9 dB is obtained for composite of 5 wt.% Fe₃O₄ (0.7 mm thick) with the dominant shielding by absorption (SE_A) of electromagnetic radiation. The enhanced electromagnetic shielding performance of Fe₃O₄/carbon nanofiber composites is attributed to the increment of both magnetic and dielectric losses due to the incorporation of magnetite nanofiller (Fe₃O₄) in electrically conducting carbon nanofiber matrix as well as the specific nanofibrous structure of carbon nanofiber mats, which forms a higher aspect ratio structure with randomly aligned nanofibers. Furthermore, we prove that the addition of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a coating for carbon nanofiber composite strengthens the composite structure without interfering with its electromagnetic shielding efficiency.     

Morphology and electrical conductivity of injection-molded polypropylene/carbon black composites with addition of high-density polyethylene

This work attempts to clarify the influence of carbon black (CB) addition on the microstructure of injection-molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/polypropylene (PP) blends and effect of shear-induced polymer deformation on the conductive network structure. We observed that HDPE molecules are strongly interacted with carbon surfaces and CB particles are selectively located in HDPE domains. Morphology of the injection-molded specimen consists of three parts, namely, CB-HDPE complex domain, free HDPE domain and PP domain. The volume and microstructure of the free HDPE domain are significantly influenced by HDPE and CB concentration, CB structure, and PP viscosity. We also confirmed that the CB particles are capable of self-assembly to form random conductive networks even under high shear rate within very short time. The morphological changes were finally correlated to the variation of electrical conductivity.     

Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness and mechanical sliding behavior for electroless nickel/phosphorous–poly(tetrafluoroethylene) codeposition on carbon fiber/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene composites

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) powders were mounted on an electroless nickel/phosphorous (Ni/P) film on the surface of a carbon fiber by an electroless codeposition method. This type of carbon fiber filler, denoted FENCF, was then compounded with acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) for use in electromagnetic interference shielding. For the suspension of the PTFE powders, a surfactant was used. Although the adhesion between the electroless Ni/P–PTFE films and the fiber was reduced, the PTFE powders on the surface of FENCF reduced the torque values when compounded into the ABS matrix because of a self‐lubricating effect. The two‐step FENCF composites exhibited particularly significant advantages. The torque values for the two‐step FENCF/ABS composites were about one‐half of those for carbon fiber/ABS composites in compounding processes; in addition, the former had an average mean fiber length almost 2.5 times that of the latter. The multiyield phenomena in stress–strain curves of FENCF/ABS composites implied that the PTFE powders mounted on Ni/P films slid during stress–strain action. The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of FENCF/ABS composites did not decrease significantly even though the PTFE powders formed a discontinuous phase on the electroless Ni/P films. The mechanical properties of FENCF composites were enhanced because of the larger fiber length. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1661–1668, 2002     

Electrical conductivity modeling of carbon black/polycarbonate,carbon nanotube/polycarbonate,and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet/polycarbonate composites

Adding conductive carbon fillers to electrically insulating thermoplastic polymers increases the resulting composite's electrical conductivity, which would enable them to be used in electrostatic dissipative and semiconductive applications. In this study, varying amounts of carbon black (CB: 2 to 10 wt %), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT: 0.5 to 8 wt %), or exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNP: 2 to 15 wt %) were added to polycarbonate (PC) and the resulting composites were tested for electrical conductivity (EC = 1/electrical resistivity). The percolation threshold was ～ 1.2 vol % CNT, ～ 2.4 vol % CB, and ～ 4.6 vol % GNP. In addition, three EC models (Mamunya, additive, and general effective media) were developed for the CB/PC, CNT/PC, and GNP/PC composites. The general effective media (GEM) model showed the best agreement with the experimental results over the entire range of filler concentrations (above and below the percolation threshold) for all three composite systems. In addition, the GEM model can be easily adapted for composites containing combinations of different conductive fillers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

High electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness in MgO composites reinforced by aligned graphene platelets

Graphene has been considered as an excellent filler to reinforce ceramics with enhanced properties. However, the uniform dispersion and controlled orientation of graphene sheets in a ceramic matrix have become major challenges toward higher performance. In this paper, we prepared MgO matrix composites with parallel graphene layers through the intercalation of the precursor into expandable graphite. We obtained a high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of ~30 dB, due to the multiple reflections and absorptance of electromagnetic waves between the parallel graphene layers. The hardness and strength of the MgO composite were also increased by introducing parallel graphene layers. All these properties suggest that the graphene/MgO composite represents a promising electromagnetic shielding material.     

Fibers from polypropylene/nano carbon fiber composites

Fibers from polypropylene and polypropylene/vapor grown nano carbon fiber composite have been spun using conventional melt spinning equipment. At 5 wt% nano carbon fiber loading, modulus and compressive strength of polypropylene increased by 50 and 100%, respectively, and the nano carbon fibers exhibited good dispersion in the polypropylene matrix as observed by scanning electron microscopy.