Electrical Insulation and Radar-Wave Absorption Performances of Nanoferrite/Liquid-Silicone-Rubber Composites

Abstract

Novel radar-wave absorption nanocomposites are developed by filling the nanoscaled ferrites of strontium ferroxide (SrFe12O19) and carbonyl iron (CIP) individually into the highly flexible liquid silicone rubber (LSR) considered as dielectric matrix. Nanofiller dispersivities in SrFe12O19/LSR and CIP/LSR nanocomposites are characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, and the mechanical properties, electric conductivity, and DC dielectric-breakdown strength are tested to evaluate electrical insulation performances. Radar-wave absorption performances of SrFe12O19/LSR and CIP/LSR nanocomposites are investigated by measuring electromagnetic response characteristics and radar-wave reflectivity, indicating the high radar-wave absorption is dominantly derived from magnetic losses. Compared with pure LSR, the SrFe12O19/LSR and CIP/LSR nanocomposites represent acceptable reductions in mechanical tensile and dielectric-breakdown strengths, while rendering a substantial nonlinearity of electric conductivity under high electric fields. SrFe12O19/LSR nanocomposites provide high radar-wave absorption in the frequency band of 11~18 GHz, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −33 dB at 11 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth of 10 GHz. In comparison, CIP/LSR nanocomposites realize a minimum reflection loss of −22 dB at 7 GHz and a remarkably larger effective absorption bandwidth of 3.9 GHz in the lower frequency range of 2~8 GHz. Radar-wave transmissions through SrFe12O19/LSR and CIP/LSR nanocomposites in single- and double-layered structures are analyzed with CST electromagnetic-field simulation software to calculate radar reflectivity for various absorbing-layer thicknesses. Dual-layer absorbing structures are modeled by specifying SrFe12O19/LSR and CIP/LSR nanocomposites, respectively, as match and loss layers, which are predicted to acquire a significant improvement in radar-wave absorption when the thicknesses of match and loss layers approach 1.75 mm and 0.25 mm, respectively.