427c Hierarchical Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding

J. J. Huang, Plastics Engineering and NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing, University of Massachusetts, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854

EMI, also called electromagnetic pollution, has become an increasingly important problem due to the increasing use of electronic, computing and telecommunication equipment. Many efforts have been made in reducing and/or minimizing the interference by employing polymeric materials (which are made conductive) in place of conductive metallic housing, because of the advantages of polymers, such as lighter weight, lower cost, and design freedom. By employing conductive nanofillers, we recently fabricated polymer-based nanocomposites for EMI shielding applications. The formed nanocomposites show superior shielding property coupled with improved mechanical properties. The enhanced shielding property is attributed to significant surface areas of these nanofillers as shown by electron microscopy.