Compacting CNT sponge to achieve larger electromagnetic interference shielding performance

Publication date: 15 April 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 144
Author(s): Hui Mei, Xing Zhao, Junchao Xia, Fei Wei, Daoyang Han, Shanshan Xiao, Laifei Cheng
The present study reports a simple route for the synthesis of 3D carbon nanotube (CNT) sponges by vacuum assisted filtration of CNT bundles of variable compaction ratios and its epoxy (EP) composites with superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. The electrical and mechanical properties of CNT sponge/EP composites were investigated and findings enabled identification of a sponge compaction ratio of 70% as optimum for the improvement of the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness of the material, by 138 and 41%, respectively, compared to uncompacted samples. Mechanical properties of the composites were also enhanced with the yield strength and elastic modulus of the composite of a compaction ratio of 70% improved by 17 and 25%, respectively compared to pure epoxy. These results indicate that CNT sponge with a higher compaction ratio is a potential filler for mechanically strong and high-performance EMI shielding nanocomposites.

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