Electrical characterization of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites for future metasurface antenna applications

Abstract In this paper, the Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composite samples are explored in order to evaluate their feasibility and adaptability for use in future metasurface antenna application. Multi-layer GFRP composite samples are fabricated with a proportionate ratio of resins and fiber using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) technique. N type to waveguide (WR-187) adapter specially designed for electrical characterization of these GFRP composite samples is used. Thru-Reflect-Line (TRL) calibration technique is used for the test setup, and scattering parameters of these GFRP samples is measured by using the manufactured adapter along with the sample holder on a two port Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Relative permittivity and dielectric loss tangent of GFRP composite samples are computed using Nicholson-Ross-Weir (NRW) and New Non-Iterative conversion methods. The comparative analyses of both methods showed a very good agreement between them. The GFRP sample with the lowest relative permittivity is short listed for its possible application in future metasurface antenna.