LAUSR

Abstract This study provides critical insight into the design of nanocomposites and presents both enhanced mechanical and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. Polypropylene nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotube (CNT) alone, stainless steel fiber (SSF) alone, and a hybrid filler system of SSF and CNT, with 50/50 filler volume ratio but different total filler loadings, were developed via melt-mixing. It was revealed that the hybrid nanocomposites depicted simultaneous enhanced EMI shielding and mechanical performance over single filler composites. The enhanced mechanical and EMI shielding performance of the hybrid nanocomposite was attributed to the bridging of rigid SSFs with flexible CNTs, leading to a robust conductive hierarchical filler network. To characterize and assess the network, standard morphological analysis was performed.