Magnetic and microwave absorbing properties of Co–Fe thin films plated on hollow ceramic microspheres of low density

Conductive and magnetic microspheres are fabricated by plating of Co–Fe alloy thin films on hollow ceramic microspheres of low density for the application to lightweight microwave absorbers. Metal plating was carried out in a two-step electroless plating process (pre-treatment of sensitizing and subsequent plating). Uniform coating of the film with about 2 μm thickness was identified by SEM. High-frequency magnetic and microwave absorbing properties were determined in the rubber composites containing the metal-coated microspheres. Due to the conductive and ferromagnetic behavior of the Co–Fe thin films, high dielectric constant and magnetic loss can be obtained in the microwave frequencies. In particular, the magnetic loss increases with Fe content in the alloy films and its frequency dispersion can be explained by ferromagnetic resonance theory. Due to the electromagnetic properties, high absorption rate and thin matching thickness are predicted in the composite layers containing the metal-coated microspheres of low density (about 0.8 g/cc) for the electromagnetic radiation in microwave frequencies.