Microwave absorption by polyaniline–carbon nanotube composites

Conductive thermoplastic composites containing both multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline doped with para-toluene sulfonic acid were formulated using two different methods. In the first method, PAni-pTsA-coated MWNTs were synthesized and processed into an insulating matrix. The second method involved mechanical mixing of separate synthetic PAni-pTsA and non-coated MWNT solids into an insulating matrix. Microwave absorption measurements at X-band frequencies (8–12 GHz) indicated that the former composites are poor absorbers, while the latter are good absorbers and showed stronger absorption than composites containing only PAni-pTsA or MWNTs.