Fabric-Based Frequency-Selective Surfaces with Meander-Line Resonators Based on Stretchable Conductive Composite materials

Frequency-selective surfaces (FSS) selectively transmit or reflect electromagnetic waves within specific frequency bands, finding extensive applications in antennas, filtering, shielding, and wearable electromagnetic devices. In recent years, demands for flexibility, foldability, and wearability have spurred research into fabric-based FSS. However, the inherent porous structure of fabric substrates, their non-uniform dielectric parameters, and the inevitable bending and stretching deformations during use readily induce issues such as conductive pattern diffusion, insufficient interfacial adhesion, and electromagnetic performance drift. These factors significantly increase the design and manufacturing complexity of fabric FSS. To address this, this paper proposes a fabric FSS unit structure based on a zigzag square resonator. This structure achieves a low resonant frequency response within finite dimensions, meeting the 8.929 GHz bandpass requirement. Electromagnetic simulation and analysis reveal that this zigzag square resonator exhibits uniform coupling distribution, stable equivalent inductance-capacitance parameters, and insensitivity to local geometric deformation. It maintains stable resonant behaviour under fabric bending or minor stretching, effectively suppressing resonant frequency drift. Concurrently, a stretchable conductive paste exhibiting high conductivity, low-temperature curing, and excellent adhesion was developed. Periodic metallic patterns were fabricated on the fabric substrate via screen printing. Test results demonstrate that the fabricated textile FSS exhibits favourable transmission performance at 8.929 GHz, maintaining stable sheet resistance and electromagnetic response under various mechanical conditions including bending, rubbing, and washing. This research validates the feasibility and reliability of screen printing for wearable textile FSS, offering novel material and structural design solutions for the engineering of flexible electromagnetic devices.