Preparation and dual microwave-absorption properties of carboxylic poly(arylene ether nitrile)/Fe3O4 hybrid microspheres

The carboxylic poly(arylene ether nitrile)/Fe₃O₄ hybrid microspheres were prepared via solvothermal method. The carboxylic poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN-COOH) was introduced into the Fe₃O₄ microspheres by chemisorption with mass content up to 15% as defined by infrared spectra and thermal gravimetric analysis. The hybrid sphere is of hierarchical polymer-inorganic microstructure as observed by transmission electron microscopy. The microwave-absorption of the sample owns a shifting peak and a special immobilized peak with the variation of absorber thickness from 3 to 5 mm. Maximum microwave-absorption of the product is capable of over −30 dB in the range of 10-12 GHz. By proposed equivalent filter circuit model, the immobilized peak was attributed to the ordered nanostructure where the Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals were isolated by PEN-COOH. The product has the potential to be applied as microwave absorber with high microwave-absorption, good dispersibility and robust polymer-inorganic interfacial adherence.