Microwave performance of a carbon composite antenna

In this paper, we have investigated the replacement of a metal radiating element by a carbon-fiber tissue to fabricate microwave antennas embedded in pure composite material panels. To this end, a single ply of a dry carbon-fiber tissue with a sheet resistance value of 0.15 Ω/sq and a square shape (50 mm × 50 mm) acts as the radiating element. This element has been embedded by infusion process inside composite laminate made of glass-fiber tissues and polyester resin. The radiofrequency performance of the resulting pure composite antenna are presented, discussed and compared to those of a reference counterpart, using a plain metal sheet As a radiating element. The pure composite antenna exhibits a measured gain strictly alike to that of the reference antenna up to 2.1 GHz. A wider discussion about the composite antenna performance is presented up to 6 GHz.