Pyrrhotite ash-filled plastics for improved electromagnetic interference shielding and flame retardancy

Esshouba, Y, Mahfoud, T, Bodaghi, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0707-944X, Zaarour, Y, Aznabet, M, Hlil, EK, El Moussaoui, H and El Achaby, M, 2026. Pyrrhotite ash-filled plastics for improved electromagnetic interference shielding and flame retardancy. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 358: 132395. ISSN 0254-0584

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Abstract

Industrial inorganic residues pose long-term environmental risks, while modern electronic systems require multifunctional materials with effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and flame resistance. In this study, pyrrhotite ash (PA), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, was valorized as a sustainable functional filler in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composites. ABS/PA composites containing 0-60 wt% PA were fabricated via solution blending and hot pressing, and their thermal, magnetic, flame-retardant, and EMI shielding properties were systematically investigated. The composite containing 40 wt% PA achieved a maximum shielding effectiveness of 29.19 dB, with 99% electromagnetic waves (EMWs) attenuation at 3 mm thickness in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz), surpassing the 20 dB requirement for commercial EMI shielding applications. Shielding was dominated by absorption mechanisms arising from synergistic dielectric and magnetic losses associated with oxide phases within PA. Furthermore, the incorporation of 60 wt% PA significantly enhanced flame retardancy, reducing peak heat release rate and total heat release by approximately 58.6% and 61.1%, respectively, compared to neat ABS, and achieving a UL-94 V-1 rating without dripping. These results demonstrate that PA-filled ABS composites provide a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for structural EMI shielding requiring improved fire safety for direct applications such as radar systems, satellite communications, RF modules, automotive electronics, medical devices, and emerging 5G/IoT technologies.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Materials Chemistry and Physics
Creators:	Esshouba, Y., Mahfoud, T., Bodaghi, M., Zaarour, Y., Aznabet, M., Hlil, E.K., El Moussaoui, H. and El Achaby, M.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	15 June 2026
Volume:	358
ISSN:	0254-0584
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132395 DOI S0254058426003871 Publisher Item Identifier 2603691 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	09 Apr 2026 08:28
Last Modified:	09 Apr 2026 08:28
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55521

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