Title:Computational Study of Treated and Untreated Corn Husk Powder and
Polycaprolactone for Microwave Shielding Using Finite Element Method
Volume: 2
Author(s): Abubakar Yakubu*, Sirajo Abdullahi, Suleiman Sahabi and Garba Danjuma Sani
Affiliation:
- Department of Physics, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria
Keywords:
Shielding, electric field intensity, finite element method, loss factor, dielectric constant, rectangular waveguide.
Abstract:
Introduction: Microwave devices and communication devices produce electric fields,
which may be dangerous to nearby applications. These fields can be shielded using conductive
shells that are closed on all sides. These close conductive shells are often designed using thin metal
foils. However, for many applications, these enclosures can add significantly high cost and weight
to a product, and a minute gap in the enclosure can completely damage the benefits of the enclosure.
Moreso, the metal foil is not flexible to complex geometry. The solution to the gap identified is to
use a light, flexible and durable material that can shield unwanted electromagnetic (EM) waves. For
this work, treated and untreated corn husk powder (CHP) was produced from agricultural waste residues
by grinding into powder form, while polycaprolactone (PCL) was commercially obtained.
Methods: The composites of the materials were synthesized using the melt blending technique. The
dielectric property of the produced materials was investigated using the open-ended coaxial probe
technique. Moreover, the dielectric constant values were used in the composites' computational
study using the finite element method.
Results: Results indicate that the treated dielectric property was greater than the untreated composites.
The alkali treatment affected the value of the dielectric constant, shielding effectiveness, and
transmission coefficients of the composites. The highest dielectric property obtained was 3.42 for
the 30 % filler with a loss factor of 0.47. The filler played a significant role in the values of shielding
effectiveness (SE) obtained, where the highest filler was able to shield radiation by up to -4.21
dB at the frequency range measured.
Conclusion: The electric field intensity observed that the highest filler had a minimum transmitted
intensity of 2185.87 v/m. The high loss factor of 0.47 obtained for the 30% filler content can produce
waveguide terminators and other microwave components from this composite.
