Fabrication of Electromagnatic Interference Shielding Coating Material for Defense Application

Abstract

This research investigates the fabrication of Elctromagnatic Interference (EMI) shielding for stealth coating applications, with a focus on reducing the electromagnetic (EM) signature of military platforms such as fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and ground systems. Stealth technology relies on materials that can absorb and dissipate incident electromagnetic waves, thereby reducing radar detection. The study evaluates a range of materials, including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and MXene, which are known for their high dielectric and microwave absorption properties. A combination of 3Dprinted substrates and advanced coating techniques, including the use of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a binder, was used to optimize the absorption characteristics of these materials in the X-band (8.2 12 GHz) and other critical frequency ranges.

The research explores various factors influencing EMI shielding effectiveness, such as material thickness, geometry, and the number of coating layers. Experimental results demonstrated significant improvements in absorption and shielding performance, particularly with composite materials and enhanced geometries. For instance, specific configurations of MWCNTs and rGO showed exceptional radar absorption due to improved impedance matching and effective polarization mechanisms. The study also highlights the scalability of the proposed materials and techniques for practical defense applications, where the combination of lightweight, flexible, and high-performance RAMs is crucial for modern stealth technologies. These findings pave the way for the development of next-generation stealth coatings with enhanced EM wave attenuation across a wide frequency range.

Date of Award	17 Dec 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Askar (Supervisor)