Polymer Composites as Electromagnetic Wave Absorbers

Absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region is one of the most important cases which, today, is used in commercial purposes and many application fields including communications equipment, civil, military and various electronic systems and technologies. Therefore, with development of wireless electronic devices, we need to have knowledge on some devices that should absorb harmful radiation. According to the nature and position of the wave absorbing materials, the synthesis of these materials and study of their properties are considered important. Since waves constitute both electric field and magnetic field, an ideal wave absorption material should be able to absorb electrical and magnetic waves simultaneously. The nanocomposites containing an electrically conductive material are best candidates as waves absorbents. In using these nanocomposites the wave electric part can be absorbed and converted into heat, in order to dampen the waves. The magnetic property of waves is also another aspect which constitutes waves. Magnetic nanoparticles can absorb the waves by creating small magnetic fields. Therefore, those nanocomposites containing inorganic magnetic nanoparticles as well as conjugated polymers with semi-conductive properties are recently considered as new wave absorbing materials. These light-weight composites can be synthesized easily. Because of the special position of wave absorbent composites in today’s life, study on their varieties, method of preparation and specific features is considered as the topic of this article.