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EMI Shields made from intercalated graphite compositesElectromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding typically makes up about twenty percent of the mass of a spacecraft power system. Graphite fiber/polymer composites have significantly lower densities and higher strengths than aluminum, the present material of choice for EMI shields, but they lack the electrical conductivity that enables acceptable shielding effectiveness. Bromine intercalated pitch-based graphite/epoxy composites have conductivities fifty times higher than conventional structural graphite fibers. Calculations are presented which indicate that EMI shields made from such composites can have sufficient shielding at less than 20% of the mass of conventional aluminum shields. EMI shields provide many functions other than EMI shielding including physical protection, thermal management, and shielding from ionizing radiation. Intercalated graphite composites perform well in these areas also. Mechanically, they have much higher specific strength and modulus than aluminum. They also have shorter half thicknesses for x-rays and gamma radiation than aluminum. Thermally, they distribute infra-red radiation by absorbing and re-radiating it rather than concentrating it by reflection as aluminum does. The prospects for intercalated graphite fiber/polymer composites for EMI shielding are encouraging.
Document ID
19950022485
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gaier, James R. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Terry, Jennifer (Manchester Coll. North Manchester, IN., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1995
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Report/Patent Number
E-9743
NAS 1.15:106979
NASA-TM-106979
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Materials and Processing Conference
Location: Parsippany, NJ
Country: United States
Start Date: June 21, 1994
End Date: June 23, 1994
Accession Number
95N28906
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC3-317
PROJECT: RTOP 506-41-41
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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