Superior microwave absorption properties of anisotropic Y₂Fe_16‒xCo_xSi/paraffin composites by orientation tuning

Y₂Fe_16-xCo_xSi/paraffin composites were prepared by three different orientation methods. The effect of these orientation methods and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Y₂Fe_16‒xCo_xSi alloys on the electromagnetic parameters and the microwave absorption properties were investigated. The results demonstrated that orientation tuning improved the electromagnetic parameters and microwave absorption properties. Anisotropy in dielectric properties and magnetic properties of Y₂Fe_16-xCo_xSi/paraffin composites were achieved by tuning the orientation of Y₂Fe_16-xCo_xSi powders. The planar and conical anisotropic materials had superior microwave absorption properties than uniaxial anisotropic materials for the same orientation method. The Y₂Fe_16‒xCo_xSi/paraffin composite had an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.4 GHz (9.6–18 GHz) and a reflection loss of ‒59.6 dB which can almost cover the X–Ku bands and exceed the performance of many reported absorbing materials, showing its great prospects for microwave absorption in the X–Ku bands.