Dielectric and microwave-absorption properties of the partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites

Partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites were prepared as microwave-absorbing materials in this paper. Their dielectric properties were studied in X-band, and the results showed that the complex permittivity of the composites was closely correlated with the carbonization degree of PAN cloth. The microwave wave absorption ability of the composites could be primarily attributed to the growth of graphite sheets in partially carbonized PAN cloth, which could be optimized by means of controlling carbonization temperature and time of the stabilized PAN cloth. The results demonstrated the possible applications of partially carbonized PAN cloth/epoxy–silicone composites as lightweight electromagnetic wave absorbers.