Fabrication of Natural Flake Graphite/Manganese Zinc Ferrite Oxide Resin-Based Composite Wave-Absorbing Materials Via Sls

Abstract

Since radar detection technology and other wireless devices are developing decisively, materials that absorb microwave radiation are essential for reducing electromagnetic interference and improving energy efficiency. The need for microwave-absorbing composites has become vital to solving the problems of Radar stealth and electromagnetic emissions by converting microwave energy into heat energy. This paper's first method considered was the Natural Flake Graphite (NFG) and Manganese Zinc Ferrite Oxide (MZFO) PF mixed powders prepared by ball-mill mixing. Then, the NFG-MZFO/resin matrix composites were fabricated Utilizing selective laser sintering (SLS) alongside vacuum processing of epoxy resin. Finally, the results of various NFG-MZFO contents regarding composites' mechanical and wave attenuation properties were examined. Given the rise in MZFO content and decrease in NFG content, it was found that the open porosity decreases. In contrast, the bending strength increases, and the bulk density also increases the microwave absorption properties of the composites, increasing at first, and then decreasing. When the NFG-MZFO content is 3:2 wt.%, the NFG-MZFO/resin matrix composites exhibit excellent microwave absorption performance; the minimum reflection loss is -33.78 dB; the absorption bandwidth is 3.36 GHz (7.60–10.96 GHz), and good mechanical properties are achieved with a tensile strength of 4.68 MPa and a thickness of 3.5 mm with 67.06% open porosity and bulk density 0.78g/cm3. The conductive network is formed by natural flake graphite, MZFO forms the magnetic permeability network, and the network is enhanced by epoxy resin. The NFG-MZFO/resin matrix composites made using the technique articulated in this work exhibit good microwave absorption performance, load-bearing capacity, and lightweight properties.

Keywords: Natural flake graphite/Manganese Zinc Ferrite Oxide resin-based composite, selective laser sintering, impregnation enhancement, microstructure, properties, wave-absorbing mechanism.