Multiwalled carbon nanotube/cement composites with exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding properties

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/portland cement(PC) composites have been fabricated to evaluate their electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE). The results show that they can be used for the shielding of EMI in the microwave range. The incorporation of 15 wt.% MWCNTs in the PC matrix produces a SE more than 27 dB in X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz), and this SE is found to be dominated by absorption. Furthermore, the structural analysis, surface morphology and surface interaction of MWCNTs with PC matrix have been explored using XRD, SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.