Comparative Study of Graphene Nanoplatelets and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes-Polypropylene Composite Materials for Electromagnetic Shielding

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 14; p. 2411
• Main Authors: Tudose, Ioan Valentin, Mouratis, Kyriakos, Ionescu, Octavian Narcis, Romanitan, Cosmin, Pachiu, Cristina, Tutunaru-Brincoveanu, Oana, Suchea, Mirela Petruta, Koudoumas, Emmanouel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 14.07.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Carbon; carbon-based materials; Comparative studies; Composite materials; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electromagnetic interference; Electromagnetic shielding; Electrostatic discharges; EMI shielding applications; Friction; Graphene; graphene nanoplatelets; Injection molding; Mechanical properties; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; multiwall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Panels; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polypropylene; Radiation; Structural analysis; Spain
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano12142411

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-polypropylene (PP) composite materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications were fabricated as 1 mm thick panels and their properties were studied. Structural and morphologic characterization indicated that the obtained composite materials are not simple physical mixtures of these components but new materials with particular properties, the filler concentration and nature affecting the nanomaterials’ structure and their conductivity. In the case of GNPs, their characteristics have a dramatic effect of their functionality, since they can lead to composites with lower conductivity and less effective EMI shielding. Regarding CNTs-PP composite panels, these were found to exhibit excellent EMI attenuation of more than 40 dB, for 10% CNTs concentration. The development of PP-based composite materials with added value and particular functionality (i.e., electrical conductivity and EMI shielding) is highly significant since PP is one of the most used polymers, the best for injection molding, and virtually infinitely recyclable.