Impact of Thickness and Addition of Activated Charcoal on Single Layer Wheat Straw Based Microwave Absorbers
摘要
Microwave absorbing materials provide viable solution to improve countless impairments caused due to mounting electromagnetic interference. Bio-degradable, eco-friendly and cost-effective absorbers designed from agricultural waste have enchanted the heed of scientists and researchers over last few decades. In this investigation, an agricultural residue wheat straw has been combined with resin and hardener to form novel microwave absorbers of varying thickness. In addition, the effect of adding activated charcoal in various proportions to the wheat straw absorber has also been investigated. Dielectric parameters of these absorbers are measured using transmission line method. Experimental and simulative analysis of return loss profile has been performed on absorbers and it has been found that wheat straw absorber of thickness 18 mm provides a return loss (RL) < −10 dB for complete X-band frequency range, giving an EAB = 100%. The absorber’s performance improves on addition of activated charcoal, giving RLmin = − 33.76 dB at 9.38 GHz with thickness 9.5 mm.