Electron beam processing of carbon fibre reinforced braided composites

The possibility of producing a new type carbon fibre reinforced composite profile has been examined by applying braiding, a well-known process of textile technology. Pipe and hollow profile composite products can be manufactured this way by applying Electron Beam curing. The fabric-like braided reinforcing structure was manufactured out of Hungarian-made carbon fibre roving of 48,000 elementary fibres. The mutual irradiation of the system impregnated with epoxy-acrylate oligomer by 8 MeV EB resulted in better mechanical properties then conventional chemical curing. Owing to its low density and high specific strength this new composite product can possibly be applied in dynamically loaded structures e.g. in the automotive industry