Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Absorption-dominant radio-wave attenuation loss of metals and graphite

  • Electronic materials
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Absorption-dominant radio-wave (0.2–2.0 GHz) attenuation loss is comparatively reported for materials of high electrical conductivity, namely metals (aluminum and steel) and graphite. These materials exhibit similarly high absorption loss (≤ 91.5%) and similarly low reflection loss (≥ 8.5%), both as fractions of the total loss in dB. The absorption loss is high (< 55 dB) and the reflection loss is low (< 10 dB) for both graphite and the metals. The absorption-dominant attenuation loss of these high-conductivity materials is in contrast to the notion that high conductivity (due to the high impedance mismatch with air) generally causes reflection-dominant attenuation loss. The metals and graphite are in foil form, with the graphite being thicker than the metals. The linear absorption coefficient (directly related to the absorption loss per unit thickness) is lower for graphite (≤ 93 mm−1) than the metals (≤ 394 mm−1), due to the greater thickness of the graphite. The absorption loss and fractional absorption loss contribution increase with increasing frequency, whereas the reflection loss decreases, as consistent with electromagnetic theory. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the fractional loss in power, reflection dominates over absorption for all three materials in the entire frequency range. For shielding, the metals are more effective than graphite if the absorption loss per unit thickness (< 3400 dB/mm) is considered. For stealth, graphite is advantageous to the metals in the low reflection loss, though it is disadvantageous in the low absorption loss per unit thickness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chung DDL (2020) Materials for electromagnetic interference shielding. Mater Chem Phys 255:123587

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gargama H, Thakur AK, Chaturvedi SK (2016) Polyvinylidene fluoride/nanocrystalline iron composite materials for EMI shielding and absorption applications. J Alloys Compd 654:209–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jayalakshmi CG, Inamdar A, Anand A, Kandasubramanian B (2019) Polymer matrix composites as broadband radar absorbing structures for stealth aircrafts. J Appl Polym Sci 136(14):47241

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kong LB, Li ZW, Liu L, Huang R, Abshinova M, Yang ZH, Tang CB, Tan PK, Deng CR, Matitsine S (2013) Recent progress in some composite materials and structures for specific electromagnetic applications. Int Mater Rev 58(4):203–259

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. De Temmerman L (1992) New metallized materials for EMI/RFI shielding. J Coated Fabr 21:191–198

    Google Scholar 

  6. Li S, Anwar S, Lu W, Hang ZH, Hou B, Shen M, Wang C (2014) Microwave absorptions of ultrathin conductive films and designs of frequency-independent ultrathin absorbers. AIP Adv 4:017130

    Google Scholar 

  7. Obrzut J (2015) Surface conductance and microwave scattering in semicontinuous gold films. ACTA IMEKO 4(3):42–46

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kamchi NE, Belaabed B, Wojkiewicz J, Lamouri S, Lasri T (2013) Hybrid polyaniline/nanomagnetic particles composites: high performance materials for EMI shielding. J Appl Polym Sci 127(6):4426–4432

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Uma Varun V, Rajesh Kumar B, Etika KC (2020) Hybrid polymer nanocomposites as EMI shielding materials in the X-band. Mater Today Proc 28:796–798

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Iqbal S, Kotnala G, Shah J, Ahmad S (2019) Barium ferrite nanoparticles: a highly effective EMI shielding material. Mater Res Express 6(5):55018

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Piezoresistivity and piezoelectricity discovered in aluminum, with relevance to structural self-sensing. Sens Actuators A Phys 289:144–156

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Electret, piezoelectret and piezoresistivity discovered in steels, with application to structural self-sensing and structural self-powering. Smart Mater Struct 28(7):075028

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Piezoresistivity and piezoelectricity, dielectricity discovered in solder. J Mater Sci Mater Electron 30(5):4462–4472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Effect of nickel coating on the stress-dependent electric permittivity, piezoelectricity and piezoresistivity of carbon fiber, with relevance to stress self-sensing. Carbon 145:401–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Eddib AA, Chung DDL (2019) Electric permittivity of carbon fiber. Carbon 143:475–480

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Colossal electric permittivity discovered in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber, with comparison of PAN-based and pitch-based carbon fibers. Carbon 145:734–739

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Xi X, Chung DDL (2020) Electret behavior of unpoled carbon fiber with and without nickel coating. Carbon 159:122–132

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Electret, piezoelectret, dielectricity and piezoresistivity discovered in exfoliated-graphite-based flexible graphite, with applications in mechanical sensing and electric powering. Carbon 150:513–548

    Google Scholar 

  19. Xi X, Chung DDL (2020) Electret behavior of carbon fiber structural composites with carbon and polymer matrices, and its application in self-sensing and self-powering. Carbon 160:361–389

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Eddib AA, Chung DDL (2018) First report of capacitance-based self-sensing and in-plane electric permittivity of carbon fiber polymer-matrix composite. Carbon 140:413–427

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Xi X, Chung DDL (2019) Capacitance-based self-sensing of flaws and stress in carbon-carbon composite, with reports of the electric permittivity, piezoelectricity and piezoresistivity. Carbon 146: 447–461. Corrigendum to Capacitance-based self-sensing of flaws and stress in carbon-carbon composite, with reports of the electric permittivity, piezoelectricity and piezoresistivity. Carbon (2020) 158: 545

  22. Xi X, Chung DDL (2021) Role of grain boundaries in the dielectric behavior of graphite. Carbon 173:1003–1019

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Xi X, Chung DDL (2021) Dynamics of the electric polarization and depolarization of graphite. Carbon 172:83–95

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hong X, Yu W, Chung DDL (2017) Electric permittivity of reduced graphite oxide. Carbon 111:182–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hong X, Yu W, Wang A, Chung DDL (2016) Graphite oxide paper as a polarizable electrical conductor in the through-thickness direction. Carbon 109:874–882

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hong X, Yu W, Chung DDL (2017) Significant effect of sorbed water on the electrical and dielectric behavior of graphite oxide. Carbon 119:403–418

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Moalleminejad M, Chung DDL (2015) Dielectric constant and electrical conductivity of carbon black as an electrically conductive additive in a manganese-dioxide electrochemical electrode, and their dependence on electrolyte permeation. Carbon 91:76–87

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang A, Chung DDL (2014) Dielectric and electrical conduction behavior of carbon paste electrochemical electrodes, with decoupling of carbon, electrolyte and interface contributions. Carbon 72:135–151

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hong X, Chung DDL (2015) Exfoliated graphite with relative dielectric constant reaching 360, obtained by exfoliation of acid-intercalated graphite flakes without subsequent removal of the residual acidity. Carbon 91:1–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Guan H, Chung DDL (2020) Radio-wave electrical conductivity and absorption-dominant interaction with radio wave of exfoliated-graphite-based flexible graphite, with relevance to electromagnetic shielding and antennas. Carbon 157:549–562

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Stone G, Puggioni D, Lei S, Gu M, Wang K, Wang Y et al (2019) Atomic and electronic structure of domains walls in a polar metal. Phys Rev B 99(1):014105

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yao H, Wang J, Jin K, Zhang Q, Ren W, Venkatachalam P et al (2019) Multiferroic Metal-PbNb0.12Ti0.88O3-δ films on Nb-doped STO. ACS Appl Electron Mater 1(10):2109–2115

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Fei Z, Zhao W, Palomaki TA, Sun B, Miller MK, Zhao Z et al (2018) Ferroelectric switching of a two-dimensional metal. Nature 560(7718):336–339

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Kim TH, Puggioni D, Yuan Y, Xie L, Zhou H, Campbell N et al (2016) Polar metals by geometric design. Nature 533(7601):68–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Zhang H, Deng B, Wang W, Shi X (2018) Parity-breaking in single-element phases: ferroelectric-like elemental polar metals. J Phys 30(41):415504

    Google Scholar 

  36. Zhou WX, Wu HJ, Zhou J, Zeng SW, Li CJ, Li MS (2019) Artificial two-dimensional polar metal by charge transfer to a ferroelectric insulator. Commun Phys 2(1):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  37. Conrad H (2000) Electroplasticity in metals and ceramics. Mater Sci Eng A287(2):276–287

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Conrad H (2002) Thermally activated plastic flow of metals and ceramics with an electric field or current. Mater Sci Eng A322(1–2):100–107

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Antolovich SD, Conrad H (2004) The effects of electric currents and fields on deformation in metals, ceramics, and ionic materials: an interpretive survey. Mater Manuf Process 19(4):587–610

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Andrawes JS, Kronenberger TJ, Perkins TA, Roth JT, Warley RL (2007) Effects of DC current on the mechanical behavior of AlMg1SiCu. Mater Manuf Process 22(1):91–101

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Stepanov GV, Babutskii AI, Mameev IA, Olisov AN (2005) Pulse current effect on stress levels in a metal strip in tension. Strength Mater 37(6):593–597

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Karpinskii DN, Sannikov SV (2001) Effect of electric current on migration of point defects near a crack tip. J Appl Mech Tech Phys 42(6):1073–1077

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Troitskii OA (1969) Electromechanical effect in metals. Pis’ma Zh Eksp Teor Fiz 10(1):18–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Ugale AD, Jagtap RV, Pawar D, Datar S, Kale SN, Alegaonkar PS (2016) Nano-carbon: preparation, assessment, and applications for NH3 gas sensor and electromagnetic interference shielding. RSC Adv 6(99):97266–97275

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Das P, Deoghare AB, Ranjan Maity S (2020) Exploring the potential of graphene as an EMI shielding material: an overview. Mater Today Proc 22:1737–1744

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Raagulan K, Kim BM, Chai KY (2020) Recent advancement of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of two Dimensional (2D) MXene and graphene aerogel composites. Nanomaterials 10(4):702

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Wan Y, Zhu P, Yu S, Sun R, Wong C, Liao W (2017) Graphene paper for exceptional EMI shielding performance using large-sized graphene oxide sheets and doping strategy. Carbon 122:74–81

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Lin S, Ju S, Shi G, Zhang J, He Y, Jiang D (2019) Ultrathin nitrogen-doping graphene films for flexible and stretchable EMI shielding materials. J Mater Sci 54:7165–7179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03372-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Vovchenko L, Matzui L, Oliynyk V, Launets V, Mamunya Y, Maruzhenko O (2018) Nanocarbon/polyethylene composites with segregated conductive network for electromagnetic interference shielding. Mol Cryst Liquid Cryst 672(1):186–198

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. The Engineering ToolBox. https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/permeability-d_1923.html. Accessed 21 July 2019

  51. Material Properties Database. https://www.makeitfrom.com/material-properties/Hot-Rolled-1010-Carbon-Steel. Accessed 4 December 2018

  52. Kittel C (1946) Theory of the dispersion of magnetic permeability in ferromagnetic materials at microwave frequencies. Phys Rev 70(5, 6):281

    Google Scholar 

  53. Luo X, Chung DDL (1996) Electromagnetic interference shielding reaching 130 dB using flexible graphite. Carbon 34(10):1293–1294

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Eddib AA, Chung DDL (2017) The importance of the electrical contact between specimen and testing fixture in evaluating the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of carbon materials. Carbon 117:427–436

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Eddib AA, Chung DDL (2017) Corrigendum to “The importance of the electrical contact between specimen and testing fixture in evaluating the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of carbon materials”. Carbon 120:337

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Hong X, Chung DDL (2017) Carbon nanofiber mats for electromagnetic interference shielding. Carbon 111:529–537

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Yan R, Wang K, Wang C, Zhang H, Song Y, Guo Q, Wang J (2016) Synthesis and in-situ functionalization of graphene films through graphite charging in aqueous Fe2(SO4)3. Carbon 107:379–387

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Aqeeli M, Leng T, Huang X, Chen JC, Chang KH, Alburaikan A, Hu Z (2015) Electromagnetic interference shielding based on highly flexible and conductive graphene laminate. Electron Lett 51(17):1350–1352

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Chung DDL (2016) A review of exfoliated graphite. J Mater Sci 51:554–568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9284-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Xiao L, Chung DDL (2016) Mechanical energy dissipation modeling of exfoliated graphite based on interfacial friction theory. Carbon 108:291–302

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Kaynak A (1996) Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of galvanostatically synthesized conducting polypyrrole films in the 300–2000 MHz frequency range. Mater Res Bull 31(7):845–860

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hongtao Guan

    Present address: School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People’s Republic of China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Composite Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University At Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260-4400, USA

    Hongtao Guan & D. D. L. Chung

Authors
  1. Hongtao Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. D. L. Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. D. L. Chung.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Kevin Jones.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guan, H., Chung, D.D.L. Absorption-dominant radio-wave attenuation loss of metals and graphite. J Mater Sci 56, 8037–8047 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05808-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05808-2

Search

Navigation