[WEB Seminar in Progress] Solving Material Challenges with Electron Beam (EB) Irradiation

basic information

Our company will regularly hold free online seminars on electron beam processing. For more details, please visit: https://www.nhv.jp/news/seminar/post184/ Electron beams are used in a wide range of fields such as automotive, apparel, printing, and medical devices for applications including "improvement of material properties," "functional addition," "paint curing," and "sterilization." 【Application Examples】 ■ Production of Hydrogel By mixing water-soluble polymers like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with water to create a paste and then irradiating it with electron beams, crosslinking occurs, resulting in hydrogel. Gelation can be achieved using only water and polymers, eliminating concerns about the leaching of additives. ■ Improvement of Heat Resistance in Silicon Carbide Fibers (SiC Fibers) Utilizing electron beam crosslinking in the manufacturing process of silicon carbide fibers can significantly enhance their heat resistance. These fibers are used in aircraft engine components, contributing to reduced fuel costs through weight reduction of the aircraft. ■ Strength Improvement of Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRTP) Irradiating CFRTP, which uses polyamide as the base material, with electron beams can enhance bending stress.

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Applications/Examples of results

【Bridge Construction】 ■ Wire coating: Improved heat resistance ■ Tire rubber: Flowability control ■ Foam sheet: Bubble control ■ Heat shrink tubing: Improved heat shrinkability 【Graft Polymerization】 ■ Clothing: Moisture-absorbing heat generation ■ Batteries: Ion exchange functionality 【Curing】 ■ Printing inks: Solvent-free, photoinitiator-free curing ■ Outdoor panels: High weather resistance 【Sterilization and Disinfection】 ■ Medical instruments and packaging: Sterilization and disinfection 【Others】 ■ Semiconductors: Improved switching characteristics

Detailed information

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  【Crosslinking】 When polymer materials are irradiated with electron beams, the energy of the electron beams breaks molecular bonds, generating active sites (radicals). The radicals react between molecular chains, forming bonds, which is referred to as crosslinking. This crosslinking reaction leads to a three-dimensional network structure, enhancing properties such as heat resistance and strength.

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  【Graft】 This is a modification technique that creates active sites (radicals) on a polymer substrate through electron beam irradiation and then bonds monomers with different functions in a graft-like manner, thereby adding the functions of the monomers to the polymer substrate. Since they are chemically bonded, there is almost no degradation due to detachment, unlike coatings.

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  【Curing】 It is a coating formation technology that instantaneously polymerizes monomers or oligomers applied to the surface of a substrate through electron beam irradiation. Due to the curing that does not require additives, it exhibits excellent weather resistance and other properties.

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  [Disinfection and Sterilization] By irradiating with electron beams, it causes damage to DNA through two mechanisms. One is a direct action that affects the double helix structure of DNA, causing damage, and the other is an indirect action where water molecules inside the cells are decomposed by the electron beams, generating radicals that indirectly cause damage.