Broadband Electromagnetic Absorption in a Thermo-Oxidatively Stable SiOC Polymer Derived Ceramic Pyramidal Absorber...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electromagnetics
• Advanced Manufacturing

Background:

• Developing high-temperature electromagnetic (EM) absorbers is crucial for advanced stealth technologies.
• Existing materials struggle to maintain stable and efficient EM absorption in extreme heat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate novel, high-temperature resistant EM pyramidal absorbers.
• To achieve broadband EM absorption and significant radar cross-section reduction.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of complex pyramidal absorbers using direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing.
• Utilized a multicomponent polymer-derived ceramic: polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), ZrB2, and carbon black (CB).
• Investigated EM absorption mechanisms including conductive loss, interfacial polarization, and impedance matching.

Main Results:

• Achieved exceptional reflection loss of -49.9 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 13.68 GHz.
• Demonstrated a radar cross-section (RCS) reduction of 36.5 dBsm in simulations.
• Confirmed excellent thermal stability and mechanical robustness at 1000°C in oxidative environments.

Conclusions:

• The developed absorbers exhibit stable EM and mechanical properties at extreme temperatures.
• The material shows low sensitivity to wave polarization and incidence angles up to 45°.
• Presents a viable strategy for high-temperature multifunctional stealth components.