Gradient-structured SiCf/SiC hybrid woven metamaterials with superior broadband absorption and high-load bearing

Abstract

SiC_f/SiC composites provide a possibility to achieve the structure-function integration of military stealth materials used for aircraft tail. However, how to overcome narrow-band electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption remains challenging. Herein, based on the adjustable permittivity of SiC fibers and the flexible design of woven structures, a gradient-structured SiC_f/SiC hybrid woven metamaterial (GHWMM) is engineered with three different permittivity SiC fibers. The absorbing properties and mechanisms of the GHWMM were studied by combining experiment and simulation. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of strong dielectric loss, structural loss, and impedance matching, the GHWMM harvests an average reflection loss (RL) of −12 dB (93.7 % absorptivity), with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL ≤ −10 dB) of up to 10.7 GHz in the 4–18 GHz. Surprisingly, at high temperature of 1000 °C, the GHWMM still exhibits a RL below −5 dB in most frequency bands. Moreover, the GHWMM displays excellent wide-angle incidence characteristics, while possessing a remarkable flexural strength of 226.4 MPa. This work lays a foundation for the renewal of textile structures and the preparation of large-size assemblies, which holds promising prospect for application in the field of aircraft hot end components.