Solid particle erosion resistance and electromagnetic shielding performance of carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate composites

Thermoplastic polycarbonate (PC) has attracted tremendous attention due to its superior recyclability and environmental friendliness compared with thermosetting resins. In this work, thermoplastic polycarbonate was used as the matrix material and the solid particle erosion resistance of carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate (CF/PC) composites, as well as the influence of solid particle erosion on the mechanical properties of composites were studied systematically. The results indicated that the maximum erosion angle for CF/PC is 30 degrees, and samples are easier to be eroded when impacted in parallel direction to CF than the vertical. In addition, after 2 min solid particle erosion, the tensile strength and the maximum load decreased by 11.9% and 11.8% respectively, and flexural properties of all samples declined (flexural modulus by 49%, flexural strength and maximum load by 14.6%, flexural strain by 11.9%). Finally, an excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of around 40 dB over 12 GHz to 18 GHz was achieved for composites. Due to the destruction of CF/PC composite structure and the reduction of its thickness, its EMI shielding effectiveness was greatly decreased to 28 dB after sand erosion.