Carbon nanotubes–polypropylene (CNTs–PP) composites for potential application in EMI shielding – computational simulations
Oana Tatiana Nedelcu1*, Titus Sandu1, Mirela Petruta Suchea1,2*, Oana Brincoveanu1, Stefan Bucur1, Octavian Narcis Ionescu1,3, Raluca Muller1
1 National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies IMT Bucharest, 126A, Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, 077190 Voluntari-Bucharest Romania
2 Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, School of Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
3 Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiești, Bulevardul București 39, Ploiești, Romania
Abstract:
Carbon nanotubes–polypropylene (CNTs–PP) composites are emerging as scalable, lightweight alternatives to metallic materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. In this work, we present the development and testing of computational models for predicting the effective electrical properties of such polymer nanocomposites, with the aim of enhancing electromagnetic protection in electronic devices. Our approach focuses on polypropylene matrices embedded with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), where electrostatic simulations were performed on elementary volumes representative of nanocomposite domains. The simulations consider MWCNT inclusions with diameters of 10 nm and volume fractions ranging from 10 to 20%, while accounting for nanotube lengths up to 1.5 µm. Representative geometries on the order of 100 nm were used to estimate homogenized conductivity and assess the formation of conductive percolation networks. These networks enable efficient EMI attenuation via reflection and absorption mechanisms, with typical shielding effectiveness values reaching 10–40 dB. The compatibility with industrial melt-processing techniques and tunable EMI performance positions CNTs–PP nanocomposites as promising candidates for next-generation shielding in electronics, automotive systems, and wearable technologies.
Acknowledgments:
This research was supported by National Core Project “Advanced research in micro-nano-electronic devices, photonics, sensors, and microsystems for societal applications – µNanoEl" Contract no 8N/03.01.2023 supported by Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.
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