Review on Shielding Mechanism and Structural Design of Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Composites

Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) for electromagnetic interference shielding have received significant attention and shown rapid development. According to the electromagnetic wave interface conduction theory of Schelkunoff, excellent conductive performance and perfect conductive network structure are prerequisites for high shielding efficiency of electromagnetic interference shielding composites. Effective multiple interface reflection absorption, dielectric loss, and hysteresis loss characteristics of the materials are crucial for realizing the regulation of the electromagnetic interference shielding performance of CPCs. Therefore, the structural design of conductive and magnetic network for CPCs is crucial for achieving high shielding performance. In this study, it is established that an electromagnetic shielding composite with a uniform structure is widely used because of its simple preparation process, but its inefficient conductive network causes a high percolation threshold. The inefficiency can be solved by designing a composite structure and improving the efficiency of the conductive network. Currently, common structural designs include segregated structural, layered structural, and foam structural designs. These structural designs effectively solve the problem of high percolation threshold of CPCs and coordinate the contradiction between the performance of electromagnetic interference shielding and other advantages. Here the different structural advantages of electromagnetic interference shielding composites with uniform, segregated, layered, and foam structures, and their electromagnetic interference shielding effect are reviewed. Effective structural design can build an efficient conductive path, introduce multiple conductive interfaces, and also give the materials’ good mechanical properties, low‐density characteristics, etc.