Novel electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness in the microwave band of magnetic nitrile butadiene rubber/magnetite nanocomposites

A novel nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocomposite for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding at microwave frequency was successfully fabricated. The structural features of as-synthesized magnetite and NBR/Fe3O4 were examined by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The number of elastically effective chains, volume fraction of rubber, interparticle distance among conductive sites, polymerfiller interaction, and porosity of the nanocomposites were evaluated. The mechanical properties, including the tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness, of the composites were measured. The static electrical properties, such as the electrical conductivity, carrier mobility, and number of charge carriers, as a function of magnetite content were evaluated. The interrelation between the electrical conductivity, shielding effectiveness (SE), dielectric constant, and skin depth of the composites are discussed. Finally, the EMI SE versus frequency was tested. The results reveal that an SE of 2891 dB against EMI in the 112 GHz range depended on the loading of the conducting magnetite within the NBR matrix. Accordingly, these nanocomposites may used in the field of microwave absorption devices. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012