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Advanced composites, specifically carbon‐fiber‐reinforced epoxies, are used extensively for a variety of demanding structural applications, primarily because of their high strength‐to‐weight and stiffness‐to‐weight ratios, corrosion resistance, and damage tolerance characteristics. Electron beam (EB) treatment can be used to produce useful physical and/or chemical changes in plastics and composites by initiating various polymerization and crosslinking reactions. The advantages of using EB rather than thermal curing for carbon‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites include curing at ambient temperature, reduced curing times, and fewer volatiles. An EB‐curable carbon fiber‐acrylated epoxy composite is being developed for various applications. The tensile properties of the 14‐ply EB‐cured epoxy laminate were comparable with the properties of the thermally cured laminates used in the aircraft industry. Research is continuing to develop resin formulations and select coupling agents to improve the compression properties of EB‐cured laminates.

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