Absorption and Reflectance Spectra of Microwave Radiation by an Epoxy Resin Composite with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

A procedure for dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the two-component polymer SpeciFix-20 (epoxy resin + hardener) using combined hydromechanical and ultrasonic mixing was developed. New composites with carbon nanotubes were produced. Their structures and optical and electrophysical characteristics were studied. The propagation of microwave radiation (26–38 GHz) in experimental composite samples was investigated. It was shown that the strong absorption of the composites appeared only with significant additions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and was caused by the resulting electrical conductivity of the composites. A size effect of the additive on the optical characteristics of the produced composites was established. Equal absorption coefficients for microwave radiation could be achieved by using a smaller amount of carbon nanotubes with smaller diameters and greater specific surface areas in the composite.