Electromagnetic and radar absorbing properties of γ Fe2O3/Ba4Co2Fe36O60-epoxy polymeric composites for stealth applications.

Various constituent ratios with 50:30, 40:40 and 30:50 wt % of U-type barium hexaferrite (Ba 4 Co 2 Fe 36 O 60) and Gamma iron oxide (γ Fe 2 O 3) have been used to designing the radar absorbing composites within epoxy resin system. In the current work, studies are done on electromagnetic and absorbing properties of γ Fe 2 O 3 powder dispersed Ba 4 Co 2 Fe 36 O 60 -epoxy composites. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) tools have been used for structural, surface morphology and magnetic properties respectively of the synthesized powder and fabricated composites. The electromagnetic properties (ε′, ε", μ' & μ") of fabricated composites were retrieved from measured reflection (S 11 & S 22) and transmission (S 12 & S 21) parameters in 2–18 GHz frequency range. Experimental finding show that the fabricated composite having 50 wt % of γ Fe 2 O 3 of designed Ba 4 Co 2 Fe 36 O 60 /γ Fe 2 O 3 -epoxy composites possesses maximum absorption of 98.8% (RL min of −19.89 dB) at 13.2 GHz for sample thickness of 3.2 mm. The fabricated microwave absorbers confirm the effective absorption performance which has potential for strategic applications and stealth technology. Image 1 • Synthesized U-type BHF (Ba 4 Co 2 Fe 36 O 60) and Gamma iron oxide (γ Fe 2 O 3) powder were used as microwave absorbing materials (50:30, 40:40 & 30:50 in wt. %) in epoxy matrix. • Estimating the particles size and crystalline size values of synthesized powder and Ba 4 Co 2 Fe 36 O 60 /γ Fe 2 O 3 -epoxy polymeric composites. • Improved EM properties are computed from measured scattering parameters of all composites. • Microwave absorbing properties were boosted in terms of reflection loss (RL) for the frequency range of 2–18 GHz. • Maximum absorption (›› 90%) for ≤ −10 dB was achieved for the designed composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]