Electromagnetic interference shielding properties of carbon fiber cloth based composites with different layer orientation

• Carbon fiber cloth based composites with different layer angle were prepared.
• Filtration effect from carbon fiber cloth to carbonyl iron powder was studied.
• Electrical conductivity and shielding effectiveness decrease with layer angle.
• Composites with layer angle can achieve structure and function integration.

Carbon fiber cloth/epoxy resin composites with different layer orientation angles were prepared to evaluate electromagnetic shielding properties in the X band. The results showed that the electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and shielding effectiveness of composites decreased with increase in layer angle. Absorbed power had the maximum value (0.577) at 49.60° with sample thickness 4.00 mm. After using carbonyl iron powder as the radio wave absorber, both conductivity and shielding effectiveness improved when layer angle was beyond 10.06°. Reflected power decreased while absorbed power increased with increase in layer angle and their variation rates decreased. Structure and function integrated shielding products made of these composites can be used to get the highest shielding effectiveness or highest absorbed power with designed layer angles.