Improved electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of light weight carbon foam by ferrocene accumulation

The influence of nanosized iron particles (NSIP) derived from an organometallic compound, i.e. ferrocene, on the properties of light weight carbon foam (CF) derived from coal tar pitch was investigated. It was observed that NSIP acts as a catalyst, resulting in an improved degree of graphitization of CF with increasing NSIP content and hence, higher electrical and thermal conductivity values. The higher value of conductivity has a positive effect on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) of the CF. The EMI SE increased with increasing NSIP content in CF. The specific SE of the light weight CF was 130 dB.cm3/g at 10 wt% of ferrocene in CF, which is the highest value reported so far for CF, particularly at such a low thickness (2.75 mm). Besides, it was thermally stable up to 600 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere and exhibits high specific thermal conductivity up to 121 W cm3 g−1 m−1 K−1.