Electromagnetic Characterization of Materials Through High Accuracy Free Space Measurements

Aerospace or automotive industries employ novel composite or 3D printed materials in their manufacturing processes to improve performance and reduce costs. Obtaining the electromagnetic (EM) characterization of these materials or a combination of them is essential to ensure safety and EM compatibility. In this paper, the development of a test bench with rod antennas for measurements in free space is presented. A complete design is described, from simulation analysis to validation measurements. The aim is to achieve robust measurements which allow the EM characterization of very diverse samples and materials, and high accuracy results that make possible to know the exact EM behaviour of these materials.