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Highly stretchable and self-foaming polyurethane composite skeleton with thermally tunable microwave absorption
Fengchao Ye1, Xinsheng He1, Jiajia Zheng1
1Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, People's Republic of China.
Nanotechnology
|February 25, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a new stretchable polymer composite for tunable microwave absorption. The material shows excellent performance and recoverability under temperature changes, making it suitable for harsh environments.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Electromagnetism
Background:
- Developing stretchable microwave absorbers with tunable properties under thermal variations is challenging.
- Existing materials often lack the required performance or durability in dynamic thermal conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a stretchable, magnetic polymer composite foam with tunable microwave absorption properties.
- To investigate the electromagnetic response of the composite under thermal cycling.
- To evaluate the material's suitability for applications in harsh environments.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of tadpole-like CNTs@Fe3O4 nanoparticles into a self-foaming polyurethane matrix.
- Fabrication of CNTs@Fe3O4/PU composite foams with varying CNTs content.
- Investigation of microwave absorption properties under a heating-cooling cycle (253 K - 333 K).
Main Results:
- Enhanced complex permittivity and shifting peak frequency observed at elevated temperatures.
- A sample with 15 wt% CNTs@Fe3O4/PU at 333 K achieved minimum reflection loss of -66.9 dB and a bandwidth of 9.98 GHz.
- Excellent recoverability of microwave absorption properties upon cooling was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The developed stretchable PU composite exhibits tunable and excellent microwave absorption properties.
- Temperature-dependent electrical conductivity, interfacial polarization, and microcellular structures contribute to the adjustable performance.
- The material shows promise as a smart absorber for applications in demanding environments.
