Single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites for electromagnetic interference shielding

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites were prepared using coagulation method. The electrical conductivity and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of SWNT/PMMA composites over the X-band (8-12 GHz) and the microwave (200-2000 MHz) frequency range have been investigated. The electrical conductivity of composites increases with SWNT loading by 13 orders of magnitude, from 10 -15 to 10 -2 Ω -1 cm -1 with a percolation threshold of about 3 wt% SWNTs. The effect of the sample thickness on the shielding effectiveness has been studied, and correlated to the electrical conductivity of composites. The data suggest that SWNT/PMMA composites containing higher SWNT loading (above 10 wt%) be useful for EMI shielding and those with lower SWNT loading be useful for electrostatic charge dissipation. The dominant shielding mechanism of SWNT/PMMA composites was also discussed