Cationic Curing of Epoxy–Aromatic Matrices for Advanced Composites: The Assets of Radiation Processing

Cross-linking polymerization of multifunctional aromatic monomers initiated by exposure to high energy radiation continues be explored as a promising alternative thermal curing for the production high-performance composite materials. High-energy processing offers several advantages over thermosetting technology allowing fast and out-of-autoclave operations its adaptability in manufacturing large complex structures at reduced costs. The present article covers basic aspects cationic epoxy resins, providing status report on recent investigations conducted our group improve properties matrices gain better control process producing composites. A selection results based blends prepared with different composition aromatics, transfer agents, thermoplastic toughening agents onium salt initiators exemplifies importance kinetics resulting superiority radiation-triggered polymerization-induced phase separation additives is emphasized obtained morphology toughened low initial temperature reactive limits expansion phase-separated domains, an enhancement toughness.