Advanced Low-Cost Composite Curing with High Energy Electron Beams.
Abstract
Curing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites using high energy electron beams (HEEB) offer impressive advantages for fabricating a variety of military and dual use applications including composite armored vehicle and automotive structures. HEEB curing greatly reduces the time to cross-link the polymer matrix while increasing composite tensile strength. The process allows curing at room temperature for high throughput and process flexibility.. Electron beam curing also produces stronger uniform composites with reduced voids and stress concentrations. Science Research Laboratoy (SRL) has developed a new generation of pulsed linear induction accelerators which allow reliable cost efficient production of high average power electron beams with the necessary parameters for high energy electron beam curing of advanced composites. Unique features of these accelerators include high repetition rate (> 3000 pps). all-solid-state pulsed-power drivers which make these accelerators scaleable to megawatt power levels at a capital cost for the accelerator of less than $3/Watt. During Phase I. SRL developed novel processes and materials to allow high throughput electron beam composite curing. SRL also developed a costing model for the resin transfer molding/electron beam curing process and applied the model to one high-quantiy part. (MM)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 12, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA297166
Entities
People
- Daniel Goodman