Development of SrFe12O19/Ti3SiC2 Composites for Enhanced Microwave Absorption

Microwave absorbing composites containing strontium hexaferrite and titanium silicon carbide, SrFe12O19/Ti3SiC2 powder, were synthesized by mixing in different weight ratios. The strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) particles were synthesized using low-temperature combustion. The 'as synthesized' strontium hexaferrite powder is observed to have low coercivity (255.09 G) and high saturation magnetization (45.1 emu/g). The titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2) powder was synthesized by heat treatment of the precursors (Ti/Si/TiC) at 1100 degrees C under argon atmosphere. A microwave absorbing composite is fabricated by mixing in a high-energy ball mill followed by heating of SrFe12O19 and Ti3SiC2 powders at 200 degrees C. The maximum reflection loss of -39.67 dB is observed at 9.46 GHz for the composite casted into pellets containing 20% Ti3SiC2 and 80% SrFe12O19 with 2-mm thickness. The bandwidth for less than -10 dB loss is observed to be 2.77 GHz (66% of the total band). The developed magneto-dielectric composition confirmed its candidacy as a potential microwave absorbing material.