Effect of processing method on microstructure, electrical conductivity and electromagnetic wave interference (EMI) shielding performance of carbon nanofiber filled thermoplastic polyurethane composites

Abstract

In this study, effect of processing method on microstructure formation and related electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of carbon nanofiber (CNF) filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites, prepared via three different processing techniques; (i) melt compounding (MC) in a twin screw extruder, (ii) simple solution mixing (SM) on a magnetic stirrer, and (iii) solution mixing with sonication (SM-U) were investigated. It was found that the electrical conductivity values of samples decreased in the order of SM > SM-U > MC for a particular amount of CNF. The electromagnetic test results showed that the samples prepared with SM and SM-U methods yielded higher total shielding effectiveness (SET) values than those prepared with MC. SET values of samples including of 20 phr of CNF prepared with MC, SM-U and SM methods were varied in the range of 10-30 dB, 20-60 dB and 20-80 dB, respectively within a frequency range of 1-12 GHz.