PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS THAT ENHANCE THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF RADIATION CURED FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITES

摘要

Although the use of ionizing radiation to cure the matrix of fiber reinforced composites had been demonstrated in the late 1960's and a fair amount of research has been since conducted, radiation processing has not yet been extensively used to produce commercial products in the composites area. An automated, integrated systems approach is needed if there is to be industrial acceptance of this energy-efficient curing technology. A step-by-step review of processes required to elevate the radiation curing of composites to an industrially viable level is presented. This will include comparisons of the means of forming composites, such as molding alternatives or automated approaches to using prepregs, comparisons of different source technologies, such as high energy electron beams (EB), X-radiation and low-energy EB, and comparisons of using alternative chemistries for matrix materials. Estimates of the process benefits of automated manufacture of radiation cured composites will be compared with historic uses of thermal composite curing and with traditional uses of metal fabrication in some application areas, such as automotive. The strength-to-weight and product durability benefits of fiber reinforced composites are well known. EB/X-ray curing of composites offers energy savings not only in the manufacturing process itself (heat versus ionizing radiation) but presents an energy savings potential if used for commercial vehicles.