Fluorination effects of carbon black additives for electrical properties and EMI shielding efficiency by improved dispersion and adhesion

Electrospinning and heat treatment were carried out to get nano sized carbon fibers (CFs) as a matrix for shielding the electromagnetic interference (EMI). In order to improve the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding efficiency of electrospun CFs, carbon black (CB) was fluorinated and embedded into the electrospun CFs. Electrospun fiber sheets embedded fluorinated CB were heat-treated at different temperatures to determine the effects on electrical properties. It is demonstrated that fluorination treatment of CB and heat treatment of electrospun sheets at higher temperature lead to higher electrical conductivities and EMI shielding efficiencies, because fluorination significantly improved its dispersion in electrospun CF webs and created good adhesion between the CB and the CFs. The electrical conductivity of carbon composite sheets (webs) reached ∼38 S/cm, and a high EMI shielding efficiency was obtained (∼50 dB).