Composite Materials Based on Foam Polyurethane and Graphene Nanoplates Effectively Screening Electromagnetic Radiation

Composite materials based on polyurethane foam and graphene nanoplates (GNP) for shielding from electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range from 2 to 12 GHz were made by impregnation. The use of phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFS) as a binder component promoted good adhesion of graphene to the polymer matrix and made it possible to obtain samples of composites with a high graphene concentration of ~ 50 wt %. An increase in the shielding efficiency of composites was found both with an increase in the frequency of electromagnetic radiation and with an increase in the concentration of GNP in them. The maximum shielding value was 75 dB at a frequency of 12 GHz and graphene concentration of 50 % by mass. It is concluded that the impregnation method proved to be promising for the manufacture of flexible and lightweight composite foams effective for shielding electromagnetic interference in the range from 2 to 12 GHz.