Dramatic integrated enhancement of electromagnetic wave absorption and delamination resistance via 3D interlayer network architecture in composites

The key technical challenge for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials in engineering applications is the integrated optimization of EMW absorption and mechanical properties, which directly impacts composite reliability and multifunctional integration in complex environments. In this paper, the graphene oxide (GO)/carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) aerogel (GCA) with a 3D network structure is incorporated into carbon fiber cloth (CFC) interlayers, and a multi-scale collaborative strategy is proposed for preparing carbon fiber/epoxy composites (CFC/GCA/EP) that possess EMW absorption and delamination resistance properties. The low dielectric properties of GO improve the impedance matching of CFC/GCA/EP, while the 3D network structure increases the interfacial polarization and EMW transmission paths. This is synergistic with the excellent conductive loss of CFC, allowing CFC/GCA/EP-3 to exhibit excellent EMW absorption with a broadband bandwidth of 8.92 GHz and reflection loss of −19.59 dB at a thickness of 2 mm. In addition, GO sheets also improve interlaminar toughness and impact resistance by enhancing fiber-resin adhesion, dispersing stress, deflecting cracks, and increasing fracture area. CFC/GCA/EP-3, which has the best absorption performance, shows increases of 11.16 % and 32.56 % respectively in the Type I and Type II critical strain energy release rates compared to CFC/EP, along with a 21.36 % increase in peak impact force. The combination of EMW absorption performance and mechanical properties offers a new approach to the preparation of structurally and functionally integrated composites.