ABSTRACT

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is one of the most undesirable by-products of rapid proliferation of electronic products and teleco mmunications. Electromagnetic radiation also adversely affects human health. Hence, efforts are made to reduce its effect using EMI shielding materials as an intelligent packaging. The conducting paths of polymer due to nanoparticles embedded into polymer matrix increase the absorption of the electromagnetic wave to a large extent. The incorporation of magnetic and dielectric nanofillers in the polymer matrix leads to better absorbing materials which make them futuristic radar absorbing material. This chapter mainly focuses on nanostructure conductive polymers and conductive polymer nanocomposites as EMI shielding materials for packaging electronic gadgets. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section describes the fundamentals of conductive polymers including doping, conduction mechanism, charge transport phenomenon, preparative strategy of nanostructure conductive polymers and nanocomposites. The second section of the chapter is on packaging applications which includes the introduction of electromagnetic shielding and microwave absorption, theory of electromagnetic shielding and the use of conductive polymers and nanocomposites for EMI shielding. Although only a few reports on the application of conductive polymer nanocomposites for microwave absorption and EMI shielding are available, it is believed that conductive polymer nanocomposites could be important as EMI shielding materials for packaging.