Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) nanocomposites as outstanding EMI shielding and heat dissipation material

The progressive miniaturization of electronic devices necessitates effective protection against electromagnetic interference and overheating. This study aims to explore the potential of polymer nanocomposites as multifunctional materials to address these challenges in applications related to airborne and space technology. Our investigation focuses on the hypothesis that the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) into a fluoropolymer matrix (fluorinated ethylene propylene—FEP) will yield a composite material capable of simultaneously providing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and enhanced thermal properties. This research presents initial studies as the foundational step toward designing multifunctional materials for specialized airborne and space technologies applications. The samples, comprising FEP and GNP, were fabricated using a simple powdered masterbatch hot pressing technique, ensuring optimal filler dispersion within the matrix. The dispersion quality was evaluated using Raman mapping and sheet/volume resistivity analyses. Subsequently, adding 25 wt% GNP results in outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness: SE_TOT ~ 50 dB at 5 GHz for only 1-mm-thick sample and almost 3000% enhancement of thermal conductivity (exceeding 4 Wm⁻¹ K⁻¹), similarly nearly 2000% enhancement of thermal diffusivity (2 mm² s⁻¹) and an electrical conductivity of over 7 S cm⁻¹ were observed. These results stand out for their remarkable values, especially considering the use of straightforward production methods without further structural improvements or metallic additives.