Robust superhydrophobic and porous melamine-formaldehyde based composites for high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding

The high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance composites with light-weight and multifunction have become the main developing orientation in the EMI shielding materials field. This study aims to fabricate lightweight melamine-formaldehyde-based composite (SiO2@Ag@MF) foams with high EMI shielding characteristics through facile and green electroless silver (Ag) plating and polydimethylsiloxane/SiO2 (PDMS/ SiO2) coating methods. The results indicated that SiO2@Ag@MF foam possessed outstanding EMI shielding performance with the maximum shielding effectiveness (SET) of 65 dB, low density (0.014-0.019 g/cm3), and high specific shielding effectiveness (SSET) of 3439 dB cm3 g-1 due to the open-cell porous structure and high electroconductive Ag-plated skeleton. Meanwhile, because of the PDMS and SiO2 coating, the composite foam delivers superhydrophobicity, anti-corrosion, and anti-fatigue performance.

Automated summary

This study successfully fabricated lightweight melamine-formaldehyde-based composite foams with high EMI shielding characteristics and multiple functions, such as superhydrophobicity, anti-corrosion, and anti-fatigue performance.