| Abstract Scope |
Traditionally, polymer-derived matrices for carbon/carbon (C/C) composites are thermally cured. This process requires lengthy cycles that can cause part warpage downstream, inhibiting rapid development of C/C materials used in extreme conditions. Past research on polymer matrix composites has demonstrated that shorter cure times and more homogenous dosing are possible via electron beam (EB), making it an attractive potential alternative for processing C/C materials. In this work, small-scale EB curing studies were performed on submicron films of Durite-SC-1008 phenolic resin via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM conditions such as image resolution, accelerating voltage, and beam current were varied to study the effects on the resin. Here, we present characterization of these EB-cured films compared to traditional thermally cured films to demonstrate EB curing capability. |