Title :
A conductive plastic for simulating biological tissue at microwave frequencies
Author :
Chang, John T. ; Fanning, Margaret W. ; Meaney, Paul M. ; Paulsen, Keith D.
Author_Institution :
Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., CA, USA
fDate :
2/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A conductive plastic composite that exhibits complex dielectric properties similar to biological tissues over the electromagnetic spectrum of 300-900 MHz has been synthesized from compressed carbon black mixed with a castable thermoplastic (polyethyl methacrylate). This paper presents the techniques used to control the electrical properties of the conductive plastic and describes the challenges encountered in fabricating a material containing a high proportion of carbon black. While developed to serve as a housing material for a microwave antenna array for imaging biological bodies, the composite should be useful in any setting requiring a stable, solid, high loss material that simulates biological tissues over the microwave spectrum
Keywords :
bioelectric phenomena; biological effects of microwaves; conducting polymers; dielectric properties; filled polymers; 300 to 900 MHz; biological bodies imaging; biological tissue simulation; castable thermoplastic; compressed carbon black; conductive plastic; dielectric materials; dielectric properties; electrical properties control; electromagnetic spectrum; high loss material; housing material; microwave antenna array; microwave frequencies; microwave spectrum; polyethyl methacrylate; Biological materials; Biological system modeling; Biological tissues; Composite materials; Conducting materials; Dielectrics; Electromagnetic spectrum; Microwave antenna arrays; Plastics; Proportional control;
Journal_Title :
Electromagnetic Compatibility, IEEE Transactions on