Investigation of the properties of ferrite and graphite modified cement-based materials

This study investigates the impact of the amount and types of absorbent added on the compressive strength, flexural strength, and microwave absorption performance of modified sulfur magnesium cement. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analysis the microstructures. The results indicate that the incorporation of ferrite makes the microstructure more compact. The filling effect of ferrite particles and their greater hardness contribute to the enhancement of concrete strength, whereas graphite, with its weaker interlayer van der Waals forces, negatively affects the mechanical properties of concrete. When co-doped with 10% graphite and 15% ferrite, at 7.8 GHz, the reflectivity curve reaches its lowest point, with the electromagnetic wave reflectivity at 13.5 GHz reaching − 13.2 dB, and within the 5.4–18 GHz frequency range, the reflectivity remains below − 10 dB. With the combined effect of ferrite and graphene, the electromagnetic wave penetration of the cement matrix is enhanced, increasing the electromagnetic absorption efficiency and improving the interaction and eddy current loss capabilities of sulfur magnesium cement towards electromagnetic waves.