Microwave absorption properties of lightweight and flexible carbon fiber/magnetic particle composites

Hybridized-carbon-based materials with magnetic metals and oxides have attracted much attention because of their enhanced electromagnetic wave loss. In this study, magnetic particles were coated on the surface of carbon fibers by carbonizing in a nitrogen atmosphere. The morphology, structure, thermolysis, and wave-absorption performance of the carbon fiber/magnetic particle composite were determined. Results show that the in situ-formed magnetic particles (such as Fe₃O₄, NiFe₂O₄, CoFe₂O₄, and Ni₃Fe) are uniformly dispersed along the carbon-based fibers, which exhibit different wave absorption. The absorption of the carbon fiber/magnetic particle composite can be controlled by adjusting the species and concentration of the magnetic particle coating, which provides a new and effective way of endowing the magnetic-particle-coated carbon fibers with good microwave absorption properties.