Simulation of Dielectric Properties of Nanocomposites with Non-Uniform Filler Distribution

Polymers (Basel). 2023 Mar 25;15(7):1636. doi: 10.3390/polym15071636.

Abstract

Dielectric properties for nanocomposites with metallic fillers inside a polymer matrix were determined using CST STUDIO SUITE-Electromagnetic field simulation software followed by the free-space Nicolson-Ross-Weir procedure. The structure is randomly generated to simulate the intrinsic non-uniformity of real nanomaterials. Cubic insertions were equated to corresponding spherical particles in order to provide either the same volume index or the same exterior surface index. The energy concentration around the inserts and within the entire material was determined as useful information in practice in order to design materials tailored to avoid exceeding the field/temperature limit values. The paper successfully associated the dialectic measurements with the results from the computer simulations, which are mainly based on energetic effects in electromagnetic applications. The experimental results are comparable with the software simulation in terms of precision. The conclusions outline the practical applications of the method for both electromagnetic shielding and microwave domain/telecommunications applications.

Keywords: electromagnetic simulation; free-space Nicolson–Ross–Weir procedure for non-symmetrical materials; nanocomposites with non-uniform filler distribution; rendering process of the structures; transmission and reflection parameters.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a publication grant of Technical Univ. Iasi, no. GI/P 10/2021, and it was based on the experimental research results from NANO-REV-EM-ASAM Project/Competitiveness Operational Program 2014–2020 under grant ID P_37_757, cod SMIS: 104089, nr. 119/16.09.2016.