# Design of I-WP Gradient Metamaterial Broadband Electromagnetic Absorber Based on Additive Manufacturing

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a lightweight, broadband electromagnetic wave absorber using a novel 3D lattice design and additive manufacturing.

## Contribution

The novel I-WP gradient metamaterial design enables broadband and wide-angle electromagnetic absorption using TPMS structures and additive manufacturing.

## Key findings

- The IWP–EMA achieves broadband absorption with reflection loss below −10 dB from 2–40 GHz.
- The absorber maintains mechanical robustness and a lightweight profile with a 20 mm thickness and 10–30% relative density gradient.
- It provides wide-angle absorption up to 70° for both TE and TM polarizations.

## Abstract

The proliferation of electromagnetic wave applications has accentuated electromagnetic pollution concerns, highlighting the critical importance of electromagnetic wave absorbers (EMA). This study proposes innovative I-Wrapped Package Lattice electromagnetic wave absorbers (IWP–EMA) based on the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structure. Through a rational design of porous gradient structures, broadband wave absorption was achieved while maintaining lightweight characteristics and mechanical robustness. The optimized three-dimensional configuration features a 20 mm thick gradient structure with a progressive relative density transition from 10% to 30%. Under normal incidence conditions, this gradient IWP–EMA basically achieves broadband absorption with a reflection loss below −10 dB across the 2–40 GHz frequency band, with absorption peaks below −19 dB, demonstrating good impedance-matching characteristics. Additionally, due to the complex interactions of electromagnetic waves within the structure, the proposed IWP–EMA achieves a wide-angle absorption range of 70° under Transverse Electric (TE) polarization and 70° under Transverse Magnetic (TM) polarization. The synergistic integration of the TPMS design and additive manufacturing technology employed in this study significantly expands the design space and application potential of electromagnetic absorption structures.