Effect of Reduced Graphene Oxide on Microwave Absorbing Properties of Al[sub.1.5]Co[sub.4]Fe[sub.2]Cr High-Entropy Alloys

• Published in: Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 1
• Main Authors: Wang, Shuo, Zhang, Weiran, Zhang, Yong, Zhao, Jinqiang, Li, Ruixuan, Zhong, Yujie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Alloys; Electric properties; Electric waves; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic waves; Electromagnetism; Graphene; Graphite; Powders; Specialty metals industry
• ISSN: 1099-4300; 1099-4300
• DOI: 10.3390/e26010060

The microwave absorption performance of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) can be improved by reducing the reflection coefficient of electromagnetic waves and broadening the absorption frequency band. The present work prepared flaky irregular-shaped Al[sub.1.5]Co[sub.4]Fe[sub.2]Cr and Al[sub.1.5]Co[sub.4]Fe[sub.2]Cr@rGO alloy powders by mechanical alloying (MA) at different rotational speeds. It was found that the addition of trace amounts of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) had a favorable effect on the impedance matching, reflection loss (RL), and effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB) of the Al[sub.1.5]Co[sub.4]Fe[sub.2]Cr@rGO HEA composite powders. The EAB of the alloy powders prepared at 300 rpm increased from 2.58 GHz to 4.62 GHz with the additive, and the RL increased by 2.56 dB. The results showed that the presence of rGO modified the complex dielectric constant of HEA powders, thereby enhancing their dielectric loss capability. Additionally, the presence of lamellar rGO intensified the interfacial reflections within the absorber, facilitating the dissipation of electromagnetic waves. The effect of the ball milling speed on the defect concentration of the alloy powders also affected its wave absorption performance. The samples prepared at 350 rpm had the best wave absorption performance, with an RL of −16.23 and −17.28 dB for a thickness of 1.6 mm and EAB of 5.77 GHz and 5.43 GHz, respectively.