Terahertz time domain spectroscopy of epoxy resin composite with various carbon inclusions

Highlights: ► Epoxy resin with carbon inclusions is studied by terahertz time domain spectroscopy. ► The resonance dielectric dispersion is observed for all investigated samples. ► Dielectric properties are modeled by Maxwell–Garnett and nanoelectromagnetic formalism. -- Abstract: The propagation properties of terahertz waves through epoxy resin filled with small amounts (0.25–1.5 wt.%) of commercially available carbon black (CB) and CVD made single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been investigated by terahertz time domain spectroscopy. High electromagnetic attenuation specified substantially with absorption of THz radiation and strongly decreasing with the decrease of frequency from 0.2 to 1.5 THz has been found for both types of CNT fillers starting from 1 wt.% of nanocarbon concentration. At the same time CB in the same concentration does not make any impact to THz transmission spectrum. The resonance dielectric dispersion has been observed for all investigated samples, which can be attributed to phonon resonance in epoxy resin matrix. The availability of Maxwell–Garnett model for epoxy resin filled with 0.25–1.5 wt.% of CNT was also addressed in the paper.