Synergistic effect of graphene nanosheets and carbonyl iron-nickel alloy hybrid filler on electromagnetic interference shielding and thermal conductivity of cyanate ester composites

In this study, a promising cyanate ester nanocomposite with an excellent electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and high thermal conductivity was fabricated by compounding graphene nanosheets (GNSs) and magnetic carbonyl iron-nickel alloy powder (CINAP) via a solution blending method and subsequent hot-pressing. The obtained 5 wt% GNSs/cyanate ester (CE) nanocomposite possesses the outstanding EMI SE of 38 dB and this property was synergistically enhanced to attain the value of 55 dB with the presence of 20 wt% CINAP. In addition, the GNSs/CINAP/CE nanocomposite with 5 wt% GNSs and 15 wt% CINAP exhibits high thermal conductivity (K = 4.13 W m(-1) K-1). This synergistic enhancement is significantly affected by the formation of the efficient 3D electric and thermally conductive pathways as well as the dispersion of the incorporated fillers. This highly thermally conducting CE nanocomposite with the efficient EMI shielding properties has a potential to be used in advanced electronic packaging.