Recent advances in carbon-based silicone composites for EMI shielding in defense industries: A Review

Abstract

The increasing reliance on electronic equipment in the defense industry, such as communication devices, radar systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has highlighted the importance of minimizing electromagnetic interference (EMI) to ensure the reliable performance of these technologies. Traditional metallic shielding materials, while effective, suffer from several drawbacks, including weight, corrosion, and the potential for secondary EMI. Carbon-based silicone composites have emerged as promising alternatives, combining the excellent electrical conductivity of carbon-based fillers (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoplatelets and biochar) with the durability, flexibility, and environmental resistance of silicone polymers. This paper examines recent advances in carbon-based silicone EMI shielding materials, their EMI attenuation mechanisms, and their significance in defense applications. The paper investigates the properties of these composites, such as their shielding effectiveness across a broad frequency range, as well as their weight advantage over conventional materials, along with their corrosion resistance and adaptability to diverse defense systems. Furthermore, the challenges of tailoring these materials for specific applications are discussed, along with future research directions. Finally, this analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of carbon-based silicone composites to enhance the performance and reliability of electronic systems in demanding defense environments.

Keywords

• carbon based composites
• defense industry
• EMI shielding
• Electromagnetic interference

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