Electron-beam curing of thick thermoset composite matrices

Electron-beam (EB) curing of two epoxy resins, one acrylated and one methac rylated, has been investigated. The change in thermomechanical properties, such as T-g, and the change of residual unsaturation have been studied as a function of dose. These results, in combination with in situ measurements of the temperature during cure, have shown the importance of sample geometr y for the final properties of the thermoset. The thermal history of the sam ple during cure greatly affects the properties of the cured resin. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.