Advanced 3D Printed Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites toward Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

电子设备本身就会辐射电磁波。电磁干扰（EMI）是指设备发出的电磁波干扰本设备或其他电子设备的工作。鉴于各种行业中敏感电子产品的扩散，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行业的主要挑战。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择而被认为是目前使用的金属屏蔽的有吸引力的替代品。然而，聚合物屏蔽领域仍处于起步阶段，并面临三个重大挑战。首先，聚合物屏蔽的电磁干扰屏蔽性能不如金属屏蔽。其次，由于缺乏对成型结构电性能的控制，普通模压纳米复合材料的电磁干扰屏蔽潜力有限。第三，用普通成型技术制造复杂几何形状的聚合物屏蔽体用于高级应用，需要复杂的模具，或者需要经过昂贵的、筋疲力尽的后处理，以获得聚合物纳米复合材料的最终形状。因此，该研究计划的总体目标是开发知识和技术，以生成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3D打印导电聚合物纳米复合材料。通过3D打印生成的多层图案结构将允许操纵电磁干扰屏蔽机制，这在普通模制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（纳米填充物），使其比现有的导电填充物具有更高的导电性和更大的表面积；目标2：聚合物加工。通过聚合物-纳米填料混合（熔体混合和长丝挤压）和成型（聚合物纳米复合长丝的3D打印），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；目的3:3d打印聚合物纳米复合材料的发展。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电磁干扰屏蔽性能之间的关系。3名博士将承担拟开展的研究项目。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。该研究项目还将为加拿大导电纳米材料和3D打印聚合物纳米复合材料的新合成技术的发展做出贡献。

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.