Influence of thermal history on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber–acrylate composites cured by electron beam and thermal processes

The mechanical properties of an acrylate resin and its carbon fiber composite, as well as the adhesion strength between them, were characterized in the case of thermal and electron beam curing (with and without thermal post-cure). It was shown that the properties of the matrix were similar but that the thermal history during the curing had a direct influence on the type of interactions that were generated at the interface, leading to different level of adhesion strength and level of performance for the associated composites. In the case of a thermal cure, the thermal profile allowed the generation of covalent bonding at the interface by thermal degradation of carboxylic acid functionalities and simultaneous production of radicals at the surface of the fiber. A high level of adhesion strength was obtained, which was not the case for electron beam curing without a thermal post-cure at the appropriate temperature.