EMI Shielding Properties of Conducting Poly (aniline-co-o-toluidine)-CF-Novolac Composites

A study was made to design a copolymer of aniline and o-toluidine and its composite with carbon fiber (CF) in making PANIoTCFN sheets for controlling electromagnetic interference. PANIoTTCFN composite synthesized by emulsion polymerization was physically blended with different proportions of novolac resin to prepare a composite sheet by hot press compression moulding. In-situ incorporation of carbon fiber into the copolymer during the synthesis leads to the formation of composites with improved mechanical, thermal, electrical, and shielding properties. Structural and morphological studies were carried out by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. PANIoTCFN composite sheets with 50 % loading of novolac resin have a flexural strength of 52.4 MPa and exhibited shielding effectiveness of 26 dB at a thickness of 1.48 mm of the composite sheet, which reveals that these composite sheets can be used for EMI shielding applications.