LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR EMI/EMP SHIELDING

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY A LOW COST, LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPOSITE MATERIAL WHICH CAN BE USED TO HARDEN A SHELTER AGAINST EMI/EMP THREATS. THE WEIGHT REDUCTION GOAL OF 80% OF EXISTING 30 MIL ALUMINUM SHEET IS AMBITIOUS, BUT WITH THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS AND FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS, SUCH A GOAL IS ATTAINABLE. THE RESEARCH PROPOSED HEREIN IDENTIFIES A NUMBER OF NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR INITIAL EVALUATION AND SCREENING. SEVERAL MATERIALS WILL BE SELECTED FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION FOR SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH MIL-STD-907B AND MIL-STD-285. BASED UPON THE MATERIALS' SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS (-60 DB IS THE REQUIREMENT), MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS COST, EASE-OFFABRICATION, AND RESISTANCE TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS (HUMIDITY, TEMPERATURE0, ONE OF THE CANDIDATE MATERIALS WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT DURING ANY PHASE II WORK.