BaFe₁₂O₁₉ Nanorods Embedded in Epoxy for the Absorption of Microwaves in the X-Band Region

Sol–gel autocombustion-synthesized barium hexaferrite nanorods were embedded in an epoxy matrix as microwave absorbers, operating effectively in the X-band frequency range. The microwave absorption performance was thoroughly examined by adjusting the nanostructural characteristics of barium hexaferrite by varying the calcination temperature and absorber thickness. The phase purity was verified using X-ray diffraction analysis, complemented by Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data to accurately determine the crystal structure, bond angles, and bond lengths. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the rod-shaped morphology of the nanoparticles, which enhanced microwave absorption by promoting multiple scattering, increasing the surface area, and improving impedance matching. The results demonstrate enhanced microwave absorption performance of rod-shaped barium hexaferrite, achieving a reflection loss of −18.93 dB observed at 11.64 GHz. Furthermore, the reflection loss of the optimized sample across different frequency ranges was modeled and forecasted using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average technique. These results indicate that the developed absorber has significant potential as a promising candidate for a range of microwave absorption applications, including stealth technology.