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REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YY)2 Research Objectives: The goal of this task is to develop methods to produce materials with tailored electromagnetic properties over a broad frequency range. The research effort focuses on two primary objectives: (1) Create the fundamental understanding necessary to establish relationships for nanoparticle loading and nanoparticle size on the electromagnetic properties in polymer-based nanostructured materials and (2) develop novel materials with enhanced and improved performance properties to address unique military needs for RF/microwave systems.
Background:RF polymer nanocomposites are unique materials that combine novel electric and magnetic attributes with the inherent structural and processing properties of commodity polymers such as polyurethanes and PTFE. The desired electromagnetic properties for RF applications such as microelectronics and microwave communication systems are high permeability (µ), high permittivity (ε) and low loss (tan δ), where µ = ε ~ 3-5 and tan δ < 0.001. By producing materials meeting these requirements, we enable the development of higher gain antennas or conversely the miniaturization of RF devices.The understanding of the structure-property relationship of magnetic nanoparticles for RF applications is still in its infancy. Not only is there a need to develop materials with dielectric permeability and permittivity values that range from 3 to 5, with an essentially flat response over a broad frequency range, but another important objective is to develop an understanding of the properties of the fine particles inclusions and a correlation with their frequency response properties. Previous research findings published in the literature have focused on bulk materials or micron-sized particles (which behave similar to bulk materials) -very little information has been realized concerning structure-property relationship of magnetic nanoparticles for RF applications. This effort has focused upon developing an understanding of the effects of nanoparticle size, nanoparticle volume loading, and core/shell structure with the frequency dependent response from 10MHz-1GH...