Electromagnetic interference shielding properties of nickel-coated carbon fiber veil/acid-functionalized MWCNTs/epoxy multiscale composites

The multiscale approach have been adapted to enhance the electromagnetic interference shielding properties of nickel-coated carbon fiber veil epoxy-based composites. The nickel-coated carbon fiber veil/acid functionalized MWCNTs/epoxy multiscale composites were manufactured by impregnating the nickel-coated carbon fiber veils with well dispersed functionalized MWCNTs/epoxy mixture to prepare prepreg followed by vacuum bagging process. It is revealed from the scanning electron microscopy morphology observation of the composites that functionaized MWCNTs act as a bridge to connect nickel-coated carbon fibers and provide additional channels for the electron transfer within the composites. The electrical conductivity of the composites increases with the increasing functionalized MWCNTs loading. When the functionalized MWCNTs loading is increased from 0wt% to 3wt%, the electrical conductivity increases from 11.2 to 96.8Scm(-1), the total shielding effectiveness of the composites increases by 18dB to 56dB in the X-band (8.2-12.4GHz) range. Total shielding effectiveness shows is dominated by absorption loss SEA due to the magnetic loss, dielectric loss and multilayer construction of the composites.