Electromagnetic interference shielding by using conductive polypyrrole and metal compound coated on fabrics

TLDR

The study synthesizes EMI shielding fabrics by coating woven or non‑woven textiles with conductive polypyrrole and silver‑palladium metal compound. Charge transport and coating uniformity were examined through dc conductivity measurements and SEM imaging of the PPy/fabric composites. The composites exhibited EMI shielding from 8 to 80 dB, reaching ~80 dB when Ag was vacuum‑evaporated, and showed high RF/microwave absorption with low reflectance. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials of complex type of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) as an intrinsically conducting polymer and silver‐palladium (AgPd) metal compound coated on woven or non‐woven fabrics are synthesized. From dc conductivity and SEM photographs of PPy/fabric complexes, we discuss charge transport mechanism and the homogeneity of coating on the fabrics. The EMI shielding efficiency of PPy/fabric and AgPd/fabric complexes is in the range of 8 ∼ 80 dB depending on the conductivity and the additional Ag vacuum evaporation. The highest EMI shielding efficiency of PPy/fabric complexes vacuum‐evaporated by Ag is ∼80 dB, indicating potential materials for military uses. We propose that PPy/fabrics are excellent RF and microwave absorber because of the relatively high absorbance and low reflectance of the materials. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.