Investigation of electron beam curing of bismaleimide (BMI) and BMI/NVP resins

Electron beam curing of a 4,4-Bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMPM) / BMI-l,3-tolyl / o,o-diallylbisphenol A (DABPA) based BMI system, and the mixture of the above BMI resin with N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) is investigated to build the relationship of temperature rise, dosage and dosage rate and corresponding cure extents. The cure kinetics and effect of initiator on cure reactions are also carried out. Low intensity E-beam exposure cannot initiate BMI polymerization but high intensity E-beam exposure gives high reaction yield due to high temperature rise, which induced thermal curing. However, BMI/NVP systems can be initiated easily by low intensity E-beam exposure without thermal curing being induced. According to FT-IR measurements, 70% reaction conversion of BMI/NVP can be achieved by 200 kGy dosage exposure at 10 kGy per pass with the temperature rise no more than 50C. The product having a Tg of 180C can be obtained.

Investigation of electron beam curing of bismaleimide (BMI) and BMI/NVP resins Conference Paper