Electron beam curing of the system cycloaliphatic diepoxide-epoxidized natural rubber-glycidyl methacrylate in presence of cationic initiators

Electron beam curing of the system cycloaliphatic diepoxide-epoxidized natu ral rubber-glycidyl methacrylate containing a cationic initiator was carrie d out. Storage modulus, glass transition temperature and pendulum hardness were measured as function of EB dose, photoinitiator concentration, content of epoxidized natural rubber post cure temperature and post cure time . At electron beam doses larger than 100kGy a highly cross-linked polymer netwo rk is generated which shows a two phase morphology. Microscale elastomeric domains are incorporated into a continuous epoxy resin phase. Dynamical mec hanical analysis and pendulum hardness measurement show that an increase of the ENR ratio leads to a more elastic polymer network. Post curing results in increased glass transition temperatures. This EB cured polymer system i s believed to provide both toughness and favorable viscoelastic properties to be used as component of EB curable composites.