Effect of chemical vapor infiltration treatment on the wave-absorbing performance of carbon fiber/cement composites

Short carbon fibers were treated at high temperatures around 1100°C through chemical vapor infiltration technology. A thinner layer of pyrocarbon was deposited on the fiber surface. The dispersion of carbon fibers in a cement matrix and the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/cement composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other tests. The reflectivity of electromagnetic waves by the composites was measured in the frequency range of 8.0-18 GHz for different carbon fiber contents of 0.2wt%, 0.4wt%, 0.6wt%, and 1.0wt%. The results show that the reflectivity tends to increase with the increase of fiber content above 0.4wt%. The minimum reflectivity is -19.3 dB and the composites exhibit wave-absorbing performances. After pyrocarbon is deposited on the fiber, all the reflectivity data are far greater. They are all above -10 dB and display mainly wave-reflecting performances.