Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials that are lighter in weight are critically needed for military applications. Existing materials utilized to suppress electromagnetic emissions involve homogenous metals or conductive fragments surrounded in polymeric material. The metal enclosures add significant weight and corrosion issues to the design, while the composite materials provide shielding effectiveness for only a limited range of frequencies. With the discovery of graphene, U.S. defense departments are quickly investing and investigating the applicability of graphene for EMI shielding. The research presented explores the production of graphene, development of an injection mold composite, and the shielding effectiveness of graphene for the range of frequencies stipulated in military standards. The study reveals that graphene, although highly conductive, rates poorly when shielding frequencies outlined in MIL-STD-461. However, in those discoveries, instances may still occur in which graphene may be deployed to assist in suppressing radiated emissions.

Subjects: graphene; injection molding; polymeric; plastics; electromagnetic interference; EMI; shielding; product development