E-beam applications in industry

Electron beam accelerators are multipurpose electrical machines and excellent tools for numerous applications. The applications of electron beam accelerators range from fundamental research on particle interactions to numerous practical applications in the industry. The earliest applications of electron beam accelerators in the industry started in the middle of the last century and the list of applications is expanding ever since. The most common industrial applications are modifying the chemical and, consequently, the physical properties of rubber and plastic polymers to make better quality manufactured goods. Sterilizing medical products, particularly those with single use, food preservation and treatment of industrial wastes are some of the other well known and widely used applications. Reducing environmental pollution is, yet, another very important field of the industrial applications of electron beam accelerators. Some of the emerging applications are biofuel production, filter membrane modifications, human tissue sterilization, gem stone improvement and the list of applications is ever expanding . (author)