Justification of binder material selection for carbon particles incorporation into fibrous electromagnetic radiation absorber

Abstract

The paper presents justification of a binder material for incorporating carbon particles into the interfiber space of electromagnetic radiation absorber. A method for carbon particles incorporation into a fibrous material has been developed. It is based on applying a carbon-containing nanocomposite to the fibrous material’s surface. Previously, the research of carbon particles incorporation into a synthetic material by using an aqueous solution were carried out, which ensured a uniform distribution of carbon particles in the material structure. However, the properties of the material have changed significantly upon mechanical deformation. Therefore, the carbon particles incorporation process was investigated using various nanocomposites obtained on the basis of mixtures of vinyl acetate polymer, or epoxy polymer, or surface-active substance with carbon black. Based on the results of electron microscopic analysis and the reflection and transmission coefficients frequency dependences in the frequency range 0.7–17 GHz, the efficiency of using a nanocomposite based on a mixture of surface-active substance and carbon black to create electromagnetic radiation absorbers was justified. Such electromagnetic radiation absorbers have the transmission coefficient value about –18 dB and reflection coefficient value about –12 dB in the frequency range 7–13 GHz. Carbon-containing electromagnetic radiation absorbers based on fibrous material have thickness less than 3 mm, properties of flexibility and resistance to mechanical deformation. It can be used in various fields, in particular for hiding objects from radio frequency reconnaissance or protecting equipment from external interference.