Environmental aging of reinforced polymer composite radome: reliability and performance investigation.

In high-speed microelectronic communication, efficient and reliable radome-enclosed antenna performance is highly desired, which depends on consistent dielectric, mechanical properties, and low moisture absorption. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dielectric properties of fiber-polymer matrix composite (PMC) radome over wideband frequency and the impact of environmental aging on its performance. The dielectric constant (ε_r) of the SF/E_0.8 (80% fiber loading) composite radome material decreased to 4% from its original value (3.93), and dielectric loss (δ) was reduced by 11% from 0.035 (2-18 GHz), while SEM morphology indicated fair interface bonding. Employing the Hallberg and Peck model, equivalent aging time (5-25 years), upon accelerated environmental aging, ε_r was increased up to 3.69%, δ to 9.68%, and the moisture uptake in the SF/E_0.8 composite was increased from 1.13% to 1.67%, while tensile strength was retained up to 90.62% of its original value (147.83 MPa), compression strength up to 93.56% of its original value (388.54 MPa), flexural strength up to 85.44% of its original value (286.77 MPa), and interlaminar shear strength up to 77.66% of its original value (22.03 MPa), respectively. SF/E0.8 radome-enclosed antenna gain was decreased to 1%, and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) was increased to 1.04% from their original values. This gradual and small deviation of SF/Ex composite properties and radome electrical performance over the extended aging time is referred to as reliable and effective for radome applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]