Selection of materials to be utilized in fabrication tooling for electron-beam curing of composites

A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) sponsored by the Department of Energy and 10 industrial partners has been established to develop high performance electron beam (E-beam) curable polymer matrix composites. Since E-beam curing is a nonthermal curing method, the use of lower cost, low temperature tools made of foam, wood, or other materials becomes possible. As part of the CRADA, E-beam irradiation/stability studies on low-cost EB tooling have been performed. Approximately 50 potential tooling materials representing a broad cross-section of both commonly used and specialty materials were tested. Coupons from each material were exposed to the equivalent of 5 E-beam curing cycles of 75 kGy each. At the conclusion of each 5-cycle exposure set, the materials were evaluated for dimensional and hardness changes. The testing continued for each material until obvious breakdown from radiation exposure or handling. The goal is ultimately to extend testing to approximately 150 simulated cure cycles (11,250 kGy) which represents a fairly large aircraft/aerospace structure production run.