Preparation and properties of functional particle Fe3O4-rGO and its modified fiber/epoxy composite for high-performance microwave absorption structure

Abstract

Abstract Microwave absorbing materials have been becoming a countermeasure and security media for radio environment, and also been becoming the main military force attached by the world. In this study, experimental data, theoretical researches and FEKO—a 3D structure and electromagnetic field analysis simulation tool, namely, FEldberechnung bei Korpern mit beliebiger Oberflache, are effectively combined. Through systematic studies on electromagnetic parameters and microwave absorbing properties of high-performance absorbing functional particle Fe3O4-rGO (i.e. reduced graphene oxide), single-layer composite Fe3O4-rGO@EP/GF (epoxy/glass fiber) and multi-layer structure composite Fe3O4-rGO@EP/fiber, combined with the simulation calculations of material structures, design on the microwave absorption performances of fiber/resin structural composites is achieved. In particular, under the guidance of FEKO simulations, a multi-layer structure composite with two layers of Fe3O4-rGO@EP/GF with different Fe3O4-rGO added amounts as the absorbing layer and carbon fiber (CF) reinforced EP as the reflecting layer is prepared, which has an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.43–12.40 GHz, almost covering the whole X-band, and RLmin (minimum reflection loss) up to −34.60 dB at 10.37 GHz. The relevant experimental results are basically consistent with the FEKO simulation results. This study is helpful to improve the developing efficiencies and properties of microwave absorbing structure composites with both excellent mechanical properties and outstanding microwave absorbing performances, especially conducive to industrial productions.