Synergistic Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Self-Healing in Frontal Polymerized Fly Ash Reinforced Eutectogels

Frontal polymerization is a solvent-free, fast, and energy-efficient synthetic method that was used to create multifunctional composite eutectogels. A deep eutectic solvent containing choline chloride, acrylamide, and urea held together by hydrogen bonding served as the foundation for the eutectogels. Hydroxy-modified fly ash (HMFA) served as the reinforcing filler for the eutectogel. Compared to conventional procedures, frontal polymerization enables self-sustaining polymerization in under 4 min, significantly reducing energy use, processing time, and thermal gradients. The results of the structural and mechanical analysis showed that the HMFA was distributed uniformly throughout the polymer, the cross-linking density had increased, and strong hydrogen bonding occurred. The composite eutectogels that were produced had remarkable properties such as high tensile strength, good elasticity, wide temperature stability (−20 to 60 °C), self-healing ability, and superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance, with a measurement of 27 dB at 20 GHz. Because of its scalability and environmentally friendly chemistry, frontal polymerization stands as a great route for producing high-performance gels used in EMI shielding materials, wearable electronics, and flexible electronics.