Radiation processing for synthesis of structural materials

Accelerated ageing due to moisture absorption of thermally cured epoxy resin/polyethersulphone blends. Thermal, mechanical and morphological behaviour

Abstract A model epoxy resin/anhydride system, modified with a polyethersulfone (PES) engineering thermoplastic toughening agent, has been studied under hydrothermal ageing in order to investigate the modification of the thermal, morphological and mechanical behaviour through dynamical mechanical thermal analysis, SEM microscopy and fracture toughness test respectively. Two different concentrations of the toughening agent were used in the blends and two ageing conditions have been considered, consisting of the immersion of the samples in distilled water at constant temperature of 70 °C for 1 week and for 1 month. Dynamical mechanical thermal analysis results on hydrothermally aged materials…

Hydrothermal ageing of radiation cured epoxy resin-polyether sulfone blends as matrices for structural composites

Abstract The hydrothermal ageing of epoxy–thermoplastic blends, used as matrices for carbon fibre composites, cured by electron beam, has been studied. Two different thermoplastic percentages have been adopted. A suitable choice of both curing process and formulation parameters allows to carry out irradiation at mild temperature with several advantages, coming from a “non thermal” process, for both the final properties of the materials and the environment. Nevertheless the occurring of vitrification phenomena needs the use of a short thermal treatment after irradiation on the already solid materials, in order to complete the cure reactions. Radiation cured epoxy based matrices have been sub…

Epoxy resin-thermoplastic blends cured by ionising radiation. Structure/properties relationships

Radiation curing of an epoxy resin based blend is carried out in order to produce polymer matrices for high-performance composites. A suitable choice of both curing process and formulation parameters allows to irradiate at about 60°C. Moreover hydrothermal ageing is performed on cured materials and their properties have been evaluated