Electromagnetic and radar absorbing properties of γ Fe2O3/ Ba4Co2Fe36O60-epoxy polymeric composites for stealth applications

Various constituent ratios with 50:30, 40:40 and 30:50 wt % of U-type barium hexaferrite (Ba4Co2Fe36O60) and Gamma iron oxide (gamma Fe2O3) have been used to designing the radar absorbing composites within epoxy resin system. In the current work, studies are done on electromagnetic and absorbing properties of gamma Fe2O3 powder dispersed Ba4Co2Fe36O60-epoxy composites. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) tools have been used for structural, surface morphology and magnetic properties respectively of the synthesized powder and fabricated composites. The electromagnetic properties (epsilon', epsilon '', mu' & mu '') of fabricated composites were retrieved from measured reflection (S-11 & S-22) and transmission (S-12 & S-21) parameters in 2-18 GHz frequency range. Experimental finding show that the fabricated composite having 50 wt % of gamma Fe2O3 of designed Ba4Co2Fe36O60 /gamma Fe2O3-epoxy composites possesses maximum absorption of 98.8% (RLmin, of -19.89 dB) at 13.2 GHz for sample thickness of 3.2 mm. The fabricated microwave absorbers confirm the effective absorption performance which has potential for strategic applications and stealth technology.

Automated summary

In this study, radar absorbing composites were designed using various ratios of U-type barium hexaferrite and Gamma iron oxide within an epoxy resin system. The composites exhibited excellent electromagnetic absorption properties, with potential applications in strategic and stealth technologies.