Electric, Dielectric, Mechanical and Emi Shielding Study of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Based Nanocomposites with the Incorporation of Graphene/Cnts

Objective: Glass fiber reinforced composites with epoxy were prepared using thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as electrically conductive nano filler. Electrical, mechanical, dielectric and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties were analyzed and compared. Methods: TRGO was prepared by modified hummers method and X-ray diffraction spectra showed the carbon hexagonal structure with 6-8nm of thickness. Tensile, flexural and impact strength of these composites was comparable and increase with increasing filler content. The effect of TRGO and CNTs on AC & DC conductivity of composites was also compared, which showed that increasing the TRGO content increased the electrical conductivity little better than that of CNTs filled composite. Results: The dielectric properties also improved better for composite incorporating TRGO than with the CNTs, at higher frequency (5MHz). With addition of 2.0% TRGO and CNTs, the maximum SET observed was 32dB at lower frequency, with TRGO-based composite manage to maintain its performance even at higher frequency whereas, this value dropped to 24dB for CNT-based composite at 5MHz of frequency. Conclusion: The dispersion state, the composition of the fillers, and their interaction with matrix are the most important factors in these polymeric composites for the development in EMI shielding effectiveness.