Electron-beam processing of thermoplastics: a review

摘要

While growing experimental work in the field of electron-beam (c-beam, or EB) curing of thermoset composites has been extensively reported at various SAMPE technical venues, commercial-scale utilization of EB technology for modification and enhancement of physical properties of thermoplastic materials has also evolved considerably over the past forty years. Of specific interest to the plastics industry has been the use of c-beam processing (EBP) to improve thermal, chemical, barrier, impact, wear, and other properties of relatively inexpensive commodity thermoplastic polymers, extending their utility to demanding applications typically dominated by higher-cost engineered materials. EBP of cross-linkable plastics has yielded materials with improved dimensional stability, reduced stress cracking, higher service temperatures, reduced solvent and water permeability, and significant improvements in other thermomechanical properties. The purpose of this paper is to review the basic effects of EBP on thermoplastics, including how molecular structure influences a given polymer's response to EB, as well as to highlight several specific application areas where it has been used to improve key properties of selected plastic products.