Absorption-Dominant EMI Shielding Material: A Study on PVDF/PMMA/ZrO ₂ Polymer Nanocomposite Films

This research investigates the development and characterization of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Zirconium Dioxide – PVDF/PMMA/ZrO2 nanocomposite films, synthesized via a solution-casting technique. The incorporation of varying concentrations of ZrO2 nanoparticles (5–25 wt.%) was systematically studied to enhance the functional properties of the base polymer blend. FTIR confirmed the integration of ZrO₂ nanoparticles through intermolecular interactions. XRD showed their monoclinic phase and uniform dispersion. SEM and AFM revealed how loading affected microstructure and surface topography. Mechanical properties improved with increasing nanoparticle content. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were significantly improved with increasing nanoparticle content. The 25 wt.% ZrO2-loaded nanocomposite exhibited the highest yield strength and tensile strength. Thermal analysis using TGA demonstrated enhanced thermal stability. Dielectric measurements revealed significant improvements in dielectric permittivity and loss tangent for the 25 wt.% ZrO2 nanocomposites. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of the nanocomposites was evaluated in the X-band. Nanocomposites with 10 and 25 wt.% ZrO₂ showed superior performance, reaching 36 dB and 29 dB SE at 8 GHz. The dominant EMI shielding mechanism was absorption. ZrO₂-reinforced PVDF/PMMA nanocomposite films exhibit enhanced mechanical, thermal, dielectric, and shielding properties, making them promising candidates for advanced functional material applications.