Energy transmission mechanism of electrons in epoxy resin during electron beam curing process

A method was proposed to study the energy transmission mechanism of electrons in epoxy resin system during the electron beam (EB) curing. The energy deposition curves were simulated with a Monte Carlo method before radiation curing. The temperature of points in epoxy resin were monitored during the EB curing, and the distribution of cure degree in EB-cured epoxy resin was investigated. The results from the calculation and measurement were combined to discuss the energy transmission mechanism during the radiation curing. At the beginning of radiation, the electron energy deposition in the resin in polypropylene mould coincides with the ion implantation theory, the maximum energy deposits at a certain depth in the resin systems, and then the energy deposition decreases with the increase of the distance from the radiation surface. But in glass mould, the maximum energy deposits at the radiation surface, and then the energy deposition also decreases with the increase of the distance from the radiation surface. The location where the electron concentration is the maximum changes with the radiation cure reaction. Finally, it appears near the zone in which the calculated electron deposition is the maximum, and it is more farther from the radiation surface. The elevated temperature from absorbing energy and in the exothermal reaction has nothing to do with the value of cure degree, but will affect the distribution of cure degree.