Polyurethane nickel lacquer coated carbon fiber cloth with excellent mechanical properties and high electromagnetic shielding performance

With the development of electronic information and communication technology, electromagnetic waves are everywhere in our lives, so there is an urgent need to develop efficient electromagnetic shielding (EMI) materials to reduce electromagnetic wave pollution. Medical devices, 5G communications, aerospace and other fields require materials that are tough and durable, flexible and thin, have excellent mechanical properties and high-efficiency electromagnetic shielding properties to meet practical needs. In this study, polyurethane (Pur), a lightweight, wear-resistant and stable polymer material, was combined with nickel paint and applied to the surface of 3 k carbon fiber cloth using a tension-pressing machine under high pressure to form a single-sided electromagnetic shielding composite material. Experimental verification shows that the composite sample C5P5CP made by adding 50 wt% polyurethane (Pur) and 50 wt% nickel paint has stable and efficient electromagnetic shielding performance in the entire X-band (8–12 GHz), with an average electromagnetic shielding value of 60 dB. It can exhibit excellent friction performance under variable load friction of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 N, and shows the best corrosion resistance in electrochemical experiments. Electromagnetic wave absorption is the main way composite materials shield against electromagnetic waves. This reduces the harm from secondary reflections. The material has a simple manufacturing process and excellent mechanical properties, including lightness, flexibility, and wear resistance. Its efficient electromagnetic shielding performance offers new ideas for designing shielding materials in various fields, and it is expected to have practical applications.