Low frequency electromagnetic shielding efficiency of composites based on ethylene propylene diene monomer and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes.

Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber was filled with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes to prepare composite materials with the effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) shielding. Sulfur‐based curing system as well as peroxide curing system were used for vulcanization of rubber compounds. The main goal of the work was the investigation of curing system composition and filler content on curing process, physical‐mechanical properties, cross‐link density, and shielding efficiency of the prepared composites. The results showed that curing characteristics and cross‐link density of composites were dependent on both, amount of carbon nanotubes and curing system composition. The incorporation of filler resulted in the enhancement of physical‐mechanical properties of composites. Higher values of tensile strength were found to have composites cured with organic peroxide in combination with co‐agent. The achieved results also demonstrated that carbon nanotubes filled rubber composites are suitable candidates for applications, in which shielding of EMR at low frequencies is based on reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]