Rapid Preparation and Properties of Multi-Layer Graphene Absorber Using Fused Deposition Modeling

In this study, single-layer homogeneous samples arc rapidly prototyped using fused deposition modeling (FDM) based on the preparation of graphene/polylactidc (PLA) composite. Further, the effects of different graphene contents on the electromagnetic parameters arc investigated. The wave absorption effect is calculated and analyzed according to the transmission line theory. A composite exhibiting low graphene content is selected as the printing material of transparent layer, whereas a composite exhibiting high graphene content is selected as the printing material of absorption and rcabsorption layers. Furthermore, the matching thickness range of the absorption and rcabsorption layers is determined using the quarter-wavelength matching model. Subsequently, a three-layer wave absorber comprising different graphenc/PLA composite is designed and manufactured. The experimental results denote that a three-layer wave absorber performs significantly better than a single-layer homogeneous wave absorber. The optimal wave absorption effect can be observed when the composites with the graphene mass fractions of 5%, 7%, and 8%, arc used as the printing materials of transparent, absorption, and rcabsorption layers, respectively. Finally, the reflectivity of such wave absorber in the band of 13.3-18 GHz is less than - 10 dB, and the maximum absorption peak is -30 dB at 17 GHz.