Microwave Absorption Properties of Fe₄₀Co₆₀ Based Nanocomposites

Abstract

Microwave absorbing materials are applied in stealth, communications and information processing technologies. This kind of material dissipates an electromagnetic wave by converting it into thermal energy. The nanostructuration of materials became a reliable route over the years to enhance the dielectric and magnetic properties, which induce the required interaction. Nanostructured Fe-Co alloys are soft magnetic materials that make them promising candidates for microwave absorption when combined with other materials. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate the microwave absorption properties of based nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were obtained by the solution dispersion method. Nanocrystalline alloys elaborated by mechanical alloying (MA) in a high-energy planetary ball mill (RETSCH PM400) were dispersed into commercial epoxy resin matrix to form thin polymer nanocomposites. The grain size refinement and structural properties changes during milling process were characterized using powder’s X-ray Diffraction (XPERT PRO MPD diffractometer) at different milling durations. XRD spectra analysis show that a grain size refinement of 4.54 nm was reached after 60h milling accompanied with 1.2 % microdeformations. Obtained powders were shaped in small discs for which resonant cavity measurements were undertaken. The based nanocomposites have been subject to an experiment of two-port S parameters measurement in a rectangular waveguide (R120). The microwave experiments involved a Network Analyzer (VNA). Obtained results in terms of reflection losses show a good absorbing characteristic over the [8-15] GHz microwaves band.