Fathima Shifna, Patel Yamini Kumari, Shruti Gupta, Kailas Kantilal Sawant, A. A. Bazil Raj, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian
{"title":"Electromagnetic interference shielding using aluminum-layered EPDM composites: fabrication and performance analysis","authors":"Fathima Shifna, Patel Yamini Kumari, Shruti Gupta, Kailas Kantilal Sawant, A. A. Bazil Raj, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00337-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n <p>Electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the high-frequency regime demands shielding materials that are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and conformable. This study evaluates aluminium-layered ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer laminates as flexible EMI shields for the X-band (8–12 GHz). A targeted parametric study was conducted on five configurations spanning aluminium thickness (0.011/0.055 mm), surface condition (unperforated/perforated), and bonding route (TCE, rubber solution, Heatex). Free-space measurements on an open-area test site (OATS) captured S-parameters and radar cross-section (RCS). The laminates exhibited strong reflection attenuation (S<sub>11</sub>: – 42 to – 77.5 dB) and substantial transmission loss (S<sub>21</sub>: – 44 to – 58 dB), confirming effective shielding. Computed shielding effectiveness was absorption-dominated, consistent with multiple internal reflections and interfacial scattering within the aluminium–EPDM architecture that suppresses coherent re-emission toward the receiver. The unperforated, thicker-foil laminate delivered the deepest reflection minima and lowest transmission, while perforated foils produced useful frequency-dependent responses via scattering and partial impedance matching. RCS values remained below 0.1 m<sup>2</sup> across the band, indicating simultaneous suppression of electromagnetic penetration and backscatter. Consequently, the results demonstrate that EPDM/Al laminates unite mechanical flexibility with high X-band attenuation, providing a scalable, weather-resistant, and corrosion-tolerant solution for aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and flexible electronics.</p>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"28 5","pages":"815 - 825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Rubber Research","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42464-026-00337-6","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the high-frequency regime demands shielding materials that are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and conformable. This study evaluates aluminium-layered ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer laminates as flexible EMI shields for the X-band (8–12 GHz). A targeted parametric study was conducted on five configurations spanning aluminium thickness (0.011/0.055 mm), surface condition (unperforated/perforated), and bonding route (TCE, rubber solution, Heatex). Free-space measurements on an open-area test site (OATS) captured S-parameters and radar cross-section (RCS). The laminates exhibited strong reflection attenuation (S11: – 42 to – 77.5 dB) and substantial transmission loss (S21: – 44 to – 58 dB), confirming effective shielding. Computed shielding effectiveness was absorption-dominated, consistent with multiple internal reflections and interfacial scattering within the aluminium–EPDM architecture that suppresses coherent re-emission toward the receiver. The unperforated, thicker-foil laminate delivered the deepest reflection minima and lowest transmission, while perforated foils produced useful frequency-dependent responses via scattering and partial impedance matching. RCS values remained below 0.1 m2 across the band, indicating simultaneous suppression of electromagnetic penetration and backscatter. Consequently, the results demonstrate that EPDM/Al laminates unite mechanical flexibility with high X-band attenuation, providing a scalable, weather-resistant, and corrosion-tolerant solution for aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and flexible electronics.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Rubber Research is devoted to both natural and synthetic rubbers, as well as to related disciplines. The scope of the journal encompasses all aspects of rubber from the core disciplines of biology, physics and chemistry, as well as economics. As a specialised field, rubber science includes within its niche a vast potential of innovative and value-added research areas yet to be explored. This peer reviewed publication focuses on the results of active experimental research and authoritative reviews on all aspects of rubber science.
The Journal of Rubber Research welcomes research on:
the upstream, including crop management, crop improvement and protection, and biotechnology;
the midstream, including processing and effluent management;
the downstream, including rubber engineering and product design, advanced rubber technology, latex science and technology, and chemistry and materials exploratory;
economics, including the economics of rubber production, consumption, and market analysis.
The Journal of Rubber Research serves to build a collective knowledge base while communicating information and validating the quality of research within the discipline, and bringing together work from experts in rubber science and related disciplines.
Scientists in both academia and industry involved in researching and working with all aspects of rubber will find this journal to be both source of information and a gateway for their own publications.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
