Synthesis and characterization of hybrid conducting composites based on polyaniline/magnetite fillers with improved microwave absorption properties

[Display omitted] ► Hybrid composite materials for microwave absorber structures were prepared by mixing polyaniline and magnetite with epoxy resin matrix. ► Obtained results exhibit a wideband single-layer microwave absorber with satisfactory microwave energy attenuation throughout Ku-band. ► A maximum value of microwave absorption was obtained between 14 and 16.3GHz (RC=−42dB). ► More than 99.99% of microwave absorption is achieved for some samples at optimum thickness of the absorber which make them suitable for electromagnetic interference shielding and radar absorbing materials. Hybrid organic/inorganic electromagnetic absorbing materials (EMAMs) based on polyaniline (PANI) and magnetite (Fe3O4) fillers dispersed in epoxy resin matrix were successfully prepared for electromagnetic applications. The effects of PANI and Fe3O4 loading on permittivity, permeability and microwave absorption properties were studied. The structure and the morphology of the elaborated composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electromagnetic properties and absorbing behaviors were performed over frequency range of 12.4–18GHz (Ku-band). The results show that synthesis parameters such as amount and particle size of PANI and used Fe3O4 affect significantly the morphology, the conductivity, and the microwave absorption properties of the final materials. It was revealed that the electromagnetic parameters were higher in hybrid PANI/magnetite/epoxy resin than in dielectric PANI/epoxy resin composites. The permittivity and the permeability parameters increased to high values with the rate of fillers in the composite and remained constant with the frequency. A minimum reflection coefficient (RC) of −42dB was observed at 16.3GHz with a thickness around 1mm for composites containing 15% of PANI and 10% of Fe3O4 (ɛ′=10) and −37.4dB at 14.85GHz for the composite of 15% of PANI and 25% of Fe3O4 (ɛ′=17). However, a composite made with only 20% of PANI (ɛ′=8.5) showed a minimum reflection coefficient of −11dB at 18GHz with the same thickness. The possibility to modulate the electromagnetic properties of the composite materials is of a great interest to fabricate microwave absorbing and electromagnetic shielding materials with high performances.