Face-centered cubic packing model for microwave properties of polymer composites with segregated conductive network

Segregated composite materials have proven to be an effective way of creating superior electromagnetic shielding materials, conductors, sensors, and anti-static coatings while being cheap and easy to produce. This work discusses the novel method of modeling of shielding by segregated structures based on polymer spheres, coated with carbon nanotubes (CNT). The proposed model assumes that the polymer spheres form the face-centered lattice with CNTs located in-between the spheres. The modeling results on shielding efficiency agree satisfactorily with the experimental data. The controllable parameters of the material (sphere size and CNT content) may allow it to achieve superior microwave absorption properties. Graphical abstract