Development of durable copper-coated ultralight weight nonwoven fabric: Focus on EMI shielding

Abstract

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) arises from the increased complexity of electronic devices and systems, resulting in higher packing density and enhanced responsiveness. This phenomenon amplifies the adverse impacts of electromagnetic signals, posing a threat to living organisms, thereby emphasizing the significance of protecting them. The utilization of a textile-based construction with electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) is a viable alternative to traditional metal based wired structures, owing to its inherent attributes of flexibility, air permeability, and comfort. Textile structures capable to EMI shielding are beneficial due to their flexibility, lightweight, low thickness and air or water vapor permeability. One simplest way to prepare these structures is suitable coating by conductive materials. Aim of this paper is to develop the sol gel technique for enhancing durability of copper coating of polyester nonwoven fabric and achieving sufficient EMI shielding. The FTIR, XRD analysis indicates salinization on the NW fabrics. Additionally, SEM images further confirm the uniform deposition of silane on the copper coated NW fabric. It is worth mentioning that the presence of silane has a direct impact on the EMI shielding capabilities, therefore, this silane treated conductive NW fabrics has many promising applications. In general, the use of silane coating on conductive NW fabrics enhances their durability, resulting in notable improvements in abrasion resistance, washing resistance, and the capacity to withstand various chemical environments.