Edge selectively oxidized graphene on carbonyl iron composites for microwave absorption and radar cross-section performance at X- and Ku-band

•EM properties of GOCIP and EOGCIP composites were evaluated at fixed frequencies of 10 GHz (x-band) and 15 GHz (Ku-band) to check the potential applicability of materials.•EOGCIP composites revealed RLmin of − 51.32 dB at 10 GHz with 1.47 mm and RLmin − 69.27 dB at 15 GHz with a thickness of only 1.33 mm.•The absorption BW @ −10 dB was covered with X- and Ku-band regions for almost all GOCIP, EOGCIP composites.•The EOGCIP composite exhibited the most robust RCS reduction value of 35 dBsm.•The tuning of EM absorption properties exclusively in the X-band region worthwhile for the radar absorption materials (RAM) applications.