Advanced 3D Printed Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites toward Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

电气设备本身就会辐射电磁波。当设备发出的辐射电磁波干扰其操作或其他电子设备的操作时，就会发生电磁干扰(EMI)。鉴于敏感电子产品在各个行业的激增，屏蔽电磁波已成为消费电子、汽车、航空航天和国防工业等广泛领域的重大挑战。导电聚合物纳米复合材料因其重量轻、成本低、耐腐蚀、易于加工和改进的设计选项而被认为是当前使用的金属屏蔽的诱人替代品。然而，聚合物屏蔽领域仍处于初级阶段，并面临三个重大挑战。首先，聚合物屏蔽的电磁干扰屏蔽能力不如金属屏蔽。其次，普通模塑纳米复合材料由于缺乏对模塑结构的电学性能的控制，其EMI屏蔽潜力受到限制。第三，用普通成型技术制造复杂几何形状的聚合物屏蔽，用于高级应用需要复杂的模具，或者需要经过昂贵、费力的后处理才能获得聚合物纳米复合材料的最终形状。因此，这项研究计划的主要目标是开发知识和技术，以产生3D打印导电聚合物纳米复合材料，作为具有复杂几何形状和可调节EMI屏蔽机制的多功能电磁屏蔽。通过3D打印产生的多层图案化结构将允许操纵EMI屏蔽机制，这在普通模压纳米复合材料中是不可能的。在这方面，我遵循三个具体目标：目标1：纳米材料合成。合成和设计新型导电纳米材料(纳米填料)，这种材料比目前的导电填料具有更高的导电性和更大的表面积；目标2：聚合物加工。在聚合物-纳米填料混合(熔融混合和细丝挤出)和成型(聚合物纳米复合细丝的3D打印)过程中，开发和设计合成纳米材料/聚合物纳米复合材料的形态和结构；目标3：3D-打印聚合物纳米复合材料开发。了解纳米材料的结构、3D打印聚合物纳米复合材料的结构和EMI屏蔽性能之间的关系。3博士将承担拟议的研究项目。经过培训的HQP将获得纳米材料合成、聚合物加工和3D打印聚合物纳米复合材料开发方面的专业知识和实践经验。这项研究计划将帮助加拿大在价值数十亿美元的电磁屏蔽市场中占据领先地位。这项研究计划还将有助于加拿大开发新的和改进的导电纳米材料和3D打印聚合物纳米复合材料的合成技术。

Electrical devices inherently radiate electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) occurs when radiated electromagnetic waves from a device interfere with its operation or the operation of other electronic devices. Given the proliferation of sensitive electronics in various industries, shielding electromagnetic waves has become a major challenge in a broad spectrum of sectors such as consumer electronics, and the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. Conductive polymer nanocomposites have been identified as appealing substitutions for currently used metallic shields because of their lightweight, low cost, corrosion resistance, easy processability, and improved design options. However, the field of polymer shields is still in its infancy and suffers three significant challenges. First, the EMI shielding of polymer shields is inferior to that of metals. Second, common molded nanocomposites are limited in their EMI shielding potential due to the lack of control on the electrical properties across molded structures. Third, fabricating complex geometries of polymer shields for advanced applications by common molding techniques requires intricate molds, or needs to go through expensive, exhausting post-processing to give the final shape to polymer nanocomposites. As such, the overarching goal of this research program is to develop the knowledge and technology to generate 3D printed conductive polymer nanocomposites as versatile electromagnetic shields with complex geometries and adjustable EMI shielding mechanisms. The multilayered patterned structures generated through 3D printing would allow manipulating the EMI shielding mechanisms, not possible in common molded nanocomposites. In this regard, I follow three specific objectives: Objective 1: Nanomaterial Synthesis. Synthesize and engineer novel conductive nanomaterials (nanofillers) that are more conductive and feature larger surface area than current conductive fillers; Objective 2: Polymer Processing. Develop and architect the morphology and structure of synthesized nanomaterial/polymer nanocomposites throughout polymer-nanofiller mixing (melt mixing and filament extrusion) and shaping (3D printing of polymer nanocomposite filaments); Objective 3: 3D-Printed Polymer Nanocomposites Development. Understand the relationship between the structure of nanomaterials, the architecture of 3D printed polymer nanocomposites, and EMI shielding properties. 3 PhD will undertake the proposed research program. The trained HQP will obtain expertise and hands-on experience in Nanomaterials Synthesis, Polymer Processing, and 3D Printed Polymer Nanocomposites Development. This research program will help Canada take a position at the forefront of the multi-billion-dollar market of electromagnetic shields. This research program will also contribute to the development of new and improved synthesis technologies for conductive nanomaterials and 3D printed polymer nanocomposites in Canada.