Magnetic and microwave absorption properties of PVB/Fe3O4 and PVB/NiFe2O4 composites

Electromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties of Polyvinylbutyral (PVB)/Fe3O4 and PVB/NiFe2O4 composites were investigated in the 1‐14 GHz. PVB/filler particles (Fe3O4 and NiFe2O4) composites were prepared with 90/10 mixture ratios via Ultrasonic Probe Sonicator method in solution. The complex permittivity (ε′ − jε′′) and permeability (μ′‐ jμ″) of the composites have been measured at different microwave frequencies in 1–14 GHz employing vector network analyzer (Keysight N9926A). The reflection loss (RL) of composites was calculated and evaluated using theory of the absorbing wall. It was found that, both composites exhibit the large reflection loss and broadband within the frequency range from 1 to 14 GHz for 3, 5, and 7 mm. However, the RL results show that, when the thickness is 7 mm, the minimum RL was found to be −22.9 dB (99% power absorption) at the frequency of 13.93 GHz. The Fe3O4/PVB and NiFe2O4/PVB composites have potential application for microwave and radar absorptions. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3418–3423, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers