The relationship between electromagnetic absorption properties and cell structure of poly(methyl methacrylate)/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite foams

The understanding of the effect of cell structure on the electromagnetic absorption properties can help to optimize foam structures for different applications. In this research, foams with different air volume percent, spherical and polygonal cell shapes, cell densities in the range of 104–1010cell/...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials & design 2016-06, Vol.100, p.73-83
Main Authors: Soltani Alkuh, M., Famili, M.H.N., Mokhtari Motameni Shirvan, M., Moeini, M.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon dioxide
Cell structure
Density
Electromagnetic absorber
Electromagnetic absorption
Foaming
Foams
Multi wall carbon nanotubes
Polymethyl methacrylates
Reflection
Supercritical CO2 foaming
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Summary:The understanding of the effect of cell structure on the electromagnetic absorption properties can help to optimize foam structures for different applications. In this research, foams with different air volume percent, spherical and polygonal cell shapes, cell densities in the range of 104–1010cell/cm3 and cell sizes ranging from 2.8 to 370.3μm are produced using an automatic and controllable supercritical CO2 foaming system. The results showed that foaming of PMMA/MWCNT composites resulted in a 60% reduction in electromagnetic reflection and a 96% increase in specific electromagnetic absorption. The percolation threshold of foams with polygonal cell shape is found to occur at higher MWCNT loading than spherical cell shapes. Electromagnetic reflection is independent of cell density and cell size, while absorption was improved for about 34% with increasing cell density and decreasing cell size, indicating an enhancement of the multiple reflection mechanism. [Display omitted] •PMMA/MWCNT composite foams were fabricated using a fully automatic and controllable supercritical CO2 foaming system.•Foaming reduced the electromagnetic reflection and enhanced the specific electromagnetic absorption.•Maximum specific electromagnetic absorption of foamed composites was 96%/(g/cm3).•The electromagnetic percolation threshold was found to be cell shape dependent.•Electromagnetic absorption was improved by increasing cell density and decreasing cell size.
ISSN:0264-1275
1873-4197
DOI:10.1016/j.matdes.2016.03.075