Microwave attenuation of multiwalled carbon nanotube-fused silica composites

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to convert radome materials to microwave absorbing materials. Dense MWCNT-fused silica composites were prepared by hot-pressing technique. The composites exhibit high complex permittivities at X-band frequencies, depending on the content of MWCNTs. The value of the loss tangent increases three orders over pure fused silica only by incorporating 2.5 vol % MWCNTs into the composites. The average magnitude of microwave transmission reaches -33 dB at 11-12 GHz in the 10 vol % MWCNT-fused silica composites, which indicates the composites have excellent microwave attenuation properties. The attenuation properties mainly originate from the electric loss of MWCNTs by the motion of conducting electrons. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.