Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness and Impact Test Performance of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites with Hematite and Goethite

Abstract

Carbon fibers (CFs) are versatile materials widely employed in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, known for their superior mechanical properties and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capabilities. This study focuses on the successful production of 2-layer CFRP composites reinforced with hematite (Fe2O3) particles, in two different sizes (?44 µm (325 mesh) and 50 nm), and goethite (FeO(OH)), utilizing the hand lay-up method. The investigation encompasses EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) within a frequency range of 700 to 6000 MHz, and the drop-impact strength resistance properties (under a 6 J load). Results indicate that the highest EMI SE value, 60.19 dB at 5900 MHz, is achieved with 5 wt.% goethite reinforcements, while with a reduction in drop-impact strength. For hematite-reinforced composites, the highest EMI SE, measuring 57.85 dB at 5800 MHz, is observed for samples containing 15 wt.% hematite particles with a size of 50 nm, which exhibited an overall improvement in impact strength compared to non-reinforced samples. This research highlights the potential of these CFRP composites for EMI shielding applications, with considerations for their impact on mechanical properties, providing valuable insights for applications demanding both EMI protection and structural integrity. © 2023 The Authors. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.