Lightweight Epoxy/Cotton Fiber-Based Nanocomposites with Carbon and Fe3O4for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Abstract

Cotton fiber (CF)-based electroconductive papers were prepared by facile aqueous dispersion and drying processes combined with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene nanosheets (GNPs). To enhance the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance of the manufactured nanocomposites, the electroconductive papers were soaked with epoxy resin, which cooperated with the inner sprayed Fe3O4nanoparticles. The EMI shielding effectiveness of Epoxy/CF-30-Fe3O4-30GNPs reached 33.1 dB, of which over 85.0% is attributed to absorption, which is mainly believed to be caused by the combination of GNPs and Fe3O4nanoparticles due to their special structures and synergetic effects. Moreover, the infiltration of epoxy between the randomly distributed loose CFs and the multiple reflections inside the interconnected networks could also help to improve the EMI shielding performance of GNP-added samples. The prepared lightweight and stiff Epoxy/CF-30-Fe3O4-30GNP composites have promising applications in civil or military fields.