Plastics & Composites

Composites are used extensively for a variety of demanding structural applications, primarily because of their high strength to weight ratio and stiffness to weight ratio, as well as corrosion resistance and damage tolerance characteristics. These materials can have structural and other properties that exceed those of metals and alloys. Composites are used in the aircraft, aerospace and sporting goods industries and are also finding their way into the automotive industry. Typically composites are comprised of plastics combined with other materials such as carbon or glass.

Conventional methods for curing composites can require ten to twenty times more energy than a 60 kW Electron Beam accelerator. Curing the composite involves the application of heat and pressure in an oven or autoclave. The high temperatures required in thermal processing produce volatile emissions that must be diluted before they can be released into the environment.

Electron Beam curing uses high-energy electrons rather than heat, to initiate polymerization and cross-linking reactions in polymer substrates. It thereby enhances specific physical and chemical properties. Some of the advantages of Electron Beam curing include curing at ambient temperatures, reduced curing time, better pre-cure resin stability and improved material handling.

The Electron Beam process has environmental advantages compared with traditional methods in this application. These advantages, combined with significant cost and process benefits, are expected to contribute to the increasing industrial use of this technology.

For more information about the benefits of using Electron Beam processing for plastics & composites, please contact us.