Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of copper/glass fiber knitted fabric reinforced polypropylene composites

The main objectives of this research work are to develop conductive knitted fabric composite materials and to determine their electromagnetic shieldin g effectiveness (EMSE). Polypropylene is the matrix phase and glass fibers are the reinforcement phase of the composite material. Copper wires are inc orporated as conductive fillers to provide the electromagnetic shielding pr operties of the composite material. The amount of copper in the composite m aterial is varied by changing the yam composition, fabric knit structure an d stitch density. The EMSE of various knitted fabric composites is measured in the frequency range of 300 kHz to 3 GHz. The variations of EMSE of knit ted fabric composites with fabric structure, stitch density and yam composi tions are described. Suitability of conductive knitted fabric composites fo r electromagnetic shielding applications is also discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.