Engineering multifunctionality graphene-based nanocomposites with epoxy-silane functionalized cardanol for next-generation microwave absorber.

[Display omitted] • SEM micrographs describe the morphology of homogeneous mixtures in composites. • A high surface roughness of 130 nm supremacy a high-water contact angle of 104°, indicating strong hydrophobicity. • Excellent microwave attenuation of −18 dB reflection loss signifies efficient wave dissipation. • A high absorption rate (99.99%) and damping factor around 0.95 demonstrate superior microwave absorption. • Increased storage modulus suggests enhanced stiffness and elasticity. As technology advances, the demand for effective microwave-absorbing materials (MAM) to mitigate electromagnetic wave interference is growing. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are increasingly favored across various fields for their high specific surface area, electrical conductivity, low density, and dielectric loss properties. This study presents lightweight nanocomposites composed of graphene nanoplatelets blended with epoxy resin (ER) and cardanol with silane-functionalized (SFC) as a toughening agent. The resulting nanocomposites exhibit a high surface roughness of 130 nm and an enhanced hydrophobicity, as evidenced by a high contact angle. Notably, the ER/SFC/GNP sample at 3 wt% (0.075 g) achieves a minimum reflection loss value of −18 dB at a thickness of 10 mm, indicating improved impedance matching and enhanced dielectric loss capability. The increasing damping factor ratio to approximately 0.95 further augments the reflection loss performance. The research aims to develop cost-effective, efficient, lightweight graphene-based nanocomposite absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]