Benzoxazine–epoxy copolymers: effect of molecular weight and crosslinking on thermal and viscoelastic properties

Bisphenol‐A‐based benzoxazine was copolymerized with epoxy and chain‐extended epoxies in order to study the effect of molecular weight on cured resin properties. Cure behaviour of the copolymers was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, which indicated a single exothermic curing peak at 248 °C. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was used to study the viscoelastic properties of the cured resins. A decrease in tan δ peak position and an increase in storage modulus and tan δ peak height were observed due to chain extension. Higher char yield was observed for the copolymer chain extended with tetrabromobisphenol‐A. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of acetylation on dimensional stability,mechanical, and dynamic properties of jute board

Jute slivers were acetylated in pilot scale following a no catalyst‐no solvent method at 120°C for 2 h. The weight % gain was found to be 11.37. Different jute boards were pressed under heat and pressure using acetylated jute sliver and urea formaldehyde resin. Neutral salt (NaCl), acid salt (NH₄Cl), and melamine powder were used separately for curing urea formaldehyde. For comparison purposes, control boards were also prepared using nonacetylated slivers. The boards were tested for water soaking, cyclic water soaking, and cyclic humidity to see the effect of acetylation on dimensional stabilization. This chemical modification was found to improve the dimensional stability to a great extent for NaCl and NH₄Cl cured boards and to a less extent for a melamine‐cured one. Tensile and flexural strengths were tested by Instron before and after the cyclic tests. Retention values were found to be as high as 60% after cyclic water tests for acetylated boards and the same was as low as 24% for control boards. Dynamic parameters, such as storage flexural modulus (E′), loss flexural modulus (E"), and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan δ) were determined in a fixed‐frequency mode. Dynamic mechanical study revealed that tan δ peaks were lowered due to increased bulkiness of the fiber after acetylation and thus restricted mobility. A tiny additional peak was also visible at ∼90°C beside the main peak at ∼125°C for boards with modified slivers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 935–944, 1999     

Thermal and viscoelastic properties of sequentially polymerized networks composed of benzoxazine,epoxy, and phenalkamine curing agents

By using different ratios of phenalkamine/epoxy (EP) and benzoxazine/epoxy (EB), copolymer networks have been prepared sequentially by partially curing at low temperature followed by a final cure at high temperature. A single exothermic peak was observed in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the high‐temperature curing. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed a single tan δ peak, indicating no phase separation. The copolymer networks showed T_g values lower than the parent EB polymer network. Incorporation of EP in small percentage in the copolymer networks has improved the storage modulus and crosslink densities and the maximum value was observed for a sample containing 80% EB with respect to EP content. The thermal stability of the copolymer networks is better than that of the individual networks. The char yield value at 600°C increased with increasing EB percentage in the networks. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3956–3965, 2006     

Impact of aliphatic amine comonomers on DGEBA epoxy network properties

This study characterized the mechanical and thermal properties of the oligomer‐based formulations of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured with series aliphatic amines (triethylenetetramine (TETA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and O,O bis (2‐aminopropyl propylene glycol) (Jeffamine D230) with different functionalities in the glassy state. Impact Izod and three‐point bending tests were conducted to determine the networks' impact energy (E_i), elasticity modulus (E_y), yield stress (σ_y) and fracture toughness (K_IC) values. The same three‐point bending mode was also employed to characterize the systems' thermo‐mechanical properties (DMA) and storage modulus (E') and damping modulus (tan δ = E"/E') values. The DGEBA/D230 network showed greater flexibility, maximum impact energy, higher fracture toughness, and a lower yield stress than the DGEBA/TETA and DGEBA/TEPA networks. The fracture behavior of these epoxy systems was correlated to the molecular weight between the crosslink points, M_c, and the plastic zone size (r_p) at the crack tip carved in the samples. The DGEBA/D230 network had the highest storage modulus and tan δ intensity, together with higher toughness and deformation during the network's fracture. These results were a consequence of the structural characteristics of comonomers, including their chain segment flexibility, molecular weight between crosslink points and functionality. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2132–2138, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Short jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites: Dynamic mechanical study

Short jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared using a high‐speed thermokinetic mixer. A compatibilizer was used to improve the molecular interaction between jute and PP. Both the percent weight fraction of the jute fiber and compatibilizer were varied to study the dynamic mechanical thermal (DMT) properties. Dynamic parameters such as storage flexural modulus (E′), loss flexural modulus (E″), storage shear modulus (G′), loss shear modulus (G″), and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan δ) were determined in a resonant frequency mode. The transition peak nature, amplitude, and temperature of E′, E″, G′, G″, and tan δ of different compositions were shown to indicate possible improvements of molecular interaction in the presence of a compatibilizer. The modulus retention term, a plot of the reduced modulus with the weight fraction of the jute fiber, also indicate its improvement. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 531–539, 1999     

Dynamic mechanical properties of conductive carbon black‐reinforced closed cell microcellular oil‐extended EPDM rubber vulcanizates: Effect of blowing agent,temperature, frequency,and strain

Dynamic viscoelastic properties of Vulcan XC 72 (excess conductive carbon black)‐reinforced solid‐ and closed‐cell microcellular controlled long chain branching grade oil‐extended EPDM (Keltan 7341A) rubber vulcanizates were studied at four frequencies of 3.5, 11, 35, and 110 Hz, and at a temperature range of ?100 to 160°C.The effect of blowing agent (ADC 21) loading on storage modulus (E′) and loss tangent (tan δ) was studied. The log of storage modulus bears a linear relationship with the log of density for both solid and microcellular rubber. Relative storage modulus (E/E) decreases with decrease in relative density (ρ_f/ρ_s). Both E′ and tan δ were found to be dependent on frequency and temperature. The master curves of the storage modulus versus log temperature‐reduced frequency were formed by superimposing E′ results and by using shift factors calculated by Arrhenius equation. Strain‐dependent isothermal dynamic viscoelastic properties were carried out for dynamic strain amplitude of 0.08–7%. Cole–Cole plots of microcellular vulcanizates show a circular arc with blowing agent (density). Empirical relationship between tan δ versus E′ is found to be linear, whose slope is independent of blowing agent loading or density. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1600–1608, 2006     

Preparation of high‐performance damping materials based on carboxylated nitrile rubber: Combination of organic hybridization and fiber reinforcement

The dynamic mechanical properties denoted by storage modulus (E′) and loss factor (tan δ) of binary and ternary systems consisting of carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) filled with organic hindered phenol compound 2,2′‐methylenebis(6‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol) (AO‐2246) or/and short carbon fiber (SCF) were investigated. DMA results of binary XNBR/AO‐2246 system showed that by addition of AO‐2246, the tan δ peak maximum of XNBR was remarkably increased up to 3.5, and its peak position was also significantly shifted to room temperature, demonstrating that XNBR/AO‐2246 composite is a promising damping material. Nevertheless, application of such XNBR/AO‐2246 composite is limited due to its relatively low E′ value above glass transition temperature. Therefore, to develop a high‐performance damping material with high tan δ peak and high modulus as well as controllable tan δ peak position, the combination of organic hybridization and fiber reinforcement were adopted. DMA analysis of various ternary XNBR/AO‐2246/SCF systems revealed that by introduction of SCF, the E′ value of XNBR/AO‐2246 was increased remarkably while the tan δ peak maximum was still higher than 2.5. Thus, a new type of XNBR‐based high‐performance damping material was developed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Blended hybrids based on silsesquioxane–OH and epoxy resins

Blended hybrids based on silsesquioxane cyclohexyl trisilanol [STOH; i.e., (c‐C₆H₁₁)₇Si₇O₉(OH)₃] and epoxy resin 4,5‐epoxyhexyl‐1,2‐dimethyl acid diglycidyl ester (TDE‐85) were prepared with good compatibility of STOH up to 5 wt % with TDE‐85. The blended hybrid resins, with various STOH additions, were cured by 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone, and the curing reactions were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The incorporation of STOH increased the curing reaction of TDE‐85 for three active hydrogens existing in the STOH molecule. The storage moduli and glass‐transition temperatures of the cured hybrid resins were studied with dynamic mechanical analysis. The cured hybrids had higher storage moduli than the pure epoxy resins at lower temperatures and increased slightly even when the temperature was above the glass‐transition temperature. Two peaks appearing in tan δ curves indicated the block copolymer structure and two different glass‐transition temperatures of the cured hybrid resins. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of the cured hybrid resins were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis and limited oxygen index values, respectively. The results showed that introducing silsesquioxane–OH units into epoxy resins could improve the thermal stability and flame retardancy of the resins. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Curing of phenol‐formaldehyde resin mixed with wood preservatives

The effects of preservatives used for glue‐line treatment on the curing of phenol‐formaldehyde resin (PF) were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Storage modulus, G′, loss modulus, G″, and loss tangent, tan δ, of PF with and without preservatives were recorded as a function of time under isothermal heating. The time required for G′, G″, and tan δ to reach steady values increased with addition of preservative. The G′, G″, and tan δ curves of PF containing benzyl alcohol (used in the preservative as a diluent) were almost identical to those of PF containing preservative. However, the addition of antitermite and anti‐fungal compounds alone had no effect on the curing process. There were no differences in total reaction enthalpy or dependence of activation energy on degree of conversion between pure PF and mixtures. Our results indicate that benzyl alcohol in preservatives plasticizes the curing system for PF. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

The effects of curing cycles on properties of the epoxy system 3221/RH glass fabric composites

In this work, the epoxy system 3221 and its glass fabric laminates were thermally cured under different curing temperatures. The curing degree of the resin was increased with elevated reaction temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed on the laminate coupons and glass transition temperature (T_g) and relative stiffness (E′) of composites were measured before and after soaked in distilled water at 70°C. A shift in glass transition temperature to higher values and the splitting of the tan δ curve were observed with extent of cure under dry conditions. T_g values shifted to lower temperatures after immersion. Under wet condition, the change in T_g1 was very small when the curing degree was up to 96%. The relative stiffness experienced a reduction both in initial modulus and the initial sharp drop temperature after immersion. It also suggested that the excessively high curing temperature (>130°C) had a negative effect on the retention of relative stiffness under wet condition. Both the interlaminar shear strength and dielectric properties of laminates were determined before and after immersion. The compared results demonstrated that the elevated curing temperature played a good influence on both of the properties before aged. However, for samples cured above 130°C, lower retention of interlaminar shear strength and poor dielectric properties were observed during immersion due to their higher moisture contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Interfacial,dynamic mechanical,and thermal fiber reinforced behavior of MAPE treated sisal fiber reinforced HDPE composites

The present article summarizes an experimental study on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical behavior of sisal fiber reinforced HDPE composites. Variations in mechanical strength, storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), and damping parameter (tan δ) with the addition of fibers and coupling agents were investigated. It was observed that the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths increased with the increase in fiber loading up to 30%, above which there was a significant deterioration in the mechanical strength. Further, the composites treated with MAPE showed improved properties in comparison with the untreated composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis data also showed an increase in the storage modulus of the treated composites The tan δ spectra presented a strong influence of fiber content and coupling agent on the α and γ relaxation process of HDPE. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated from TGA/DTG thermograms. The fiber–matrix morphology in the treated composites was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens. FTIR spectra of the treated and untreated composites were also studied, to ascertain the existence of type of interfacial bonds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3306–3315, 2006     

Effect of thermal exposure on the properties of phenolic composites: Dynamic mechanical analysis

Changes in the dynamic response of glass‐reinforced phenolic composites following thermal exposure at 180^oC for periods of time up to 28 days were monitored using dynamic mechanical analysis. Four phenolic resins were investigated: a resol/novolac blend, a phenolic–furan novolac/resol graft copolymer, a novolac, and a resol. Reactive blending and copolymerization of phenolic resins are currently being investigated to determine if these techniques will produce phenolic resins (and composites) that have improved impact properties and retain the excellent high‐temperature properties of resol and novolac phenolic resins. The results indicate that thermal aging at 180^oC for 1 day led to a more complete cure of all four phenolic resins as indicated by an increase in the temperature of the maximum of plots of both loss modulus (E″) and tan δ versus temperature. The storage modulus (E′) of the composites at 40^oC varied little following thermal aging at 180^oC for 1 day but decreased with increasing exposure time for samples aged 2, 7, and 28 days. Thermal aging led to an increase in E′ at higher temperatures and the magnitude of E′ at a given temperature decreased with increasing exposure time. The magnitude of E″ and tan δ decreased with aging time for all resins, although E″ and tan δ were larger for the blend and copolymer composites than for the novolac and resol composites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 385–395, 2001     

Dynamic moduli for short fiber-CR composites

The dynamic moduli, E′ and E″, and tan δ for nylon–CR and PET–CR composites with unidirectional short fibers were studied as a function of temperature by using a Rheovibron. The temperature dependence of tan δ showed two dispersion peaks for nylon–CR composite. The peak at ?28°C corresponded to the main dispersion of CR and the peak at 100°C to the α-dispersion of nylon 6. For a PET-CR composite, in addition to the individual dispersion of CR and PET, a small and broad peak was observed at about 90°C. The angular dependence of E′ indicated that the short fibers assumed good orientation. The storage modulus for the composites was given by the parallel model as E′ = V_f′E_f + V_mE′_m., where E′_c, E′_f and E′_m were the storage modulus for the composite, fiber, and matrix and V_f and V_m were the volume fraction of fiber and matrix, respectively. In the transverse direction of fiber, the peak values of tan δ at ?28°C were given by the following equation; tan δ_c = tan δ_m ? δV_f, where tan δ_c and tan δ_m are the loss tangent for the composite and matrix, respectively, and α is coefficient depending on fiber type. The results indicated that a region with strong interaction was formed between fibers and CR matrix.     

Effect of crosslink structures on dynamic mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanizates under different aging conditions

The effects of crosslink structures on the dynamic mechanical properties (DMPs) of unfilled and carbon black N330‐filled natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates cured with conventional (CV), semiefficient (SEV), and efficient (EV) cure systems and having about the same total crosslink densities were investigated before and after aerobic and anaerobic aging at 100°C. The three unfilled NR vulcanizates cured with the CV, SEV, and EV systems had about the same mechanical loss factor (tan δ) values at about 0°C but showed some apparent differences in the tan δ values in the order EV > SEV > CV at relatively high temperatures of 40–80°C before aging. However, N330‐filled NR vulcanizates gave higher tan δ values than the unfilled vulcanizates and showed little effect of the crosslink types on the tan δ at different temperatures over the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) before aging. Aerobic heat aging increased the T_g and tan δ values of the vulcanizates over a wide range of temperatures from ?80 to 90°C that was mainly due to the changes in the total density and types of crosslinks. The unfilled vulcanizates cured with the CV system showed the greatest change in DMP because of their poor resistance to heat aging. Aerobic heat aging of NR vulcanizates caused a more significant change in the DMP than anaerobic heat aging because of the dominant effect of the oxidative degradation during aerobic heat aging on the main‐chain structure, crosslink structures, and DMPs of the vulcanizates. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 710–718, 2001     

Dynamic mechanical study on the thermal aging of a hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene‐based energetic composite

In an attempt to determine the aging behavior of hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene‐based composite solid propellants, viscoelastic measurements were used to study the effect of thermal aging on this kind of energetic material. Accelerated‐aging tests at 40, 60, and 80°C were performed for 5000 h. The changes in the dynamic mechanical properties, including the storage modulus (E′) and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan δ), with time and temperature were measured to determine the aging rate and likely mechanisms occurring during this process. An Arrhenius analysis based on the determination of relative rate constants showed a linear tendency from tan δ values, whereas a significant curvature was found from E′ values. In addition, the effects of external (surface) and internal (core) sampling in the intensification of the aging process were analyzed. The results confirmed dynamic mechanical analysis as a powerful tool for determining the aging characteristics of composite propellants. This technique allows the evaluation of the actual state of a propellant grain with a small sample and a straightforward measurement. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2397–2405, 2003     

Syntheses of epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes and the effects of terminated alkoxysilanes on cured thermal properties

A series of epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes have been synthesized by reacting multifunctional aminoalkoxysilanes with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin. The reactions of trifunctional 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), difunctional 3‐aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane (APMDS), and monofunctional 3‐aminopropyldimethylethoxysilane (APDES) with DGEBA epoxy have been monitored and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ²⁹Si NMR spectra in this study. The synthesized epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes precursors, with different terminated alkoxysilane groups, are thermally cured with or without the addition of curing catalysts. Organometallic dibutyltindilaurate, and alkaline tetrabutylammonium hydroxide have been used as curing catalysts to investigate the thermal curing behaviors and cured properties of epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes precursors. The maximum exothermal curing temperatures of epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes precursors are found to appear around the same region of 120°C in DSC analysis. The addition of catalysts to the epoxy/APTES precursor shows significant influence on the cured structure; however, the catalysts exhibit less influence on the cured structure of epoxy‐APMDS precursor and epoxy/APDES precursor. Curing catalysts also show significant enhancement in increasing the thermal decomposition temperature (T_d50s) of cured network of trifunctional epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxane (epoxy/APTES). High T_d50s of 518.8 and 613.6 in the cured hybrids of epoxy/APTES and epoxy/APMDS precursors are also observed, respectively. When trialkoxysilane‐terminated epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes precursor are cured, with or without the addition of catalyst, no obvious T_g transition can be found in the TMA analysis of cured network. The cured network of trialkoxysilane‐terminated epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes also exhibits the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) among the three kinds of alkoxysilane‐terminated epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes investigated. The organic–inorganic hybrid, from epoxy‐bridged polyorganosiloxanes after the thermal curing process, shows better thermal stability than the cured resin network of pure epoxy‐diaminopropane. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 3491–3499, 2006     

Supramolecular composites of photo‐cured acrylated castor oil and fibers formed by the self‐assembly of low molecular weight organic gelators

A mixture of acrylated castor oil (ACO) with N‐carbobenzyloxy‐L ‐isoleucylaminooctadecane (CIA) or (R)‐12‐hydroxystrearic acid (HSA) containing photo‐initiators was heated to 130°C and gradually cooled to room temperature to give bio‐based gelatinous material. The photo‐curing of the gel generated a crosslinked ACO composite containing CIA or HSA. The optical micrographic and differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed that a supramolecular fibrous network is formed for photo‐cured ACO (cACO)/CIA and that spherulitic crystals are formed for cACO/HSA. The tan δ peak temperatures measured by dynamic mechanical analysis for cACO/CIA and cACO/HSA composites were higher than that of cACO. The flexural strength and modulus of cACO/CIA composites increased with an increase of CIA content, and those values were higher than those of cACO/HSA composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 33:2001–2008, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Dynamic viscoelastic properties of carbon black loaded closed-cell microcellular ethylene-propylene-diene rubber vulcanizates: Effect of blowing agent,temperature frequency,and strain

Dynamic mechanical analysis of carbon black loaded solid and closed-cell microcellular ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) vulcanizates was studied at four frequencies of 3.5, 11, 35, and 110 Hz and temperatures from −100 to 150°C. A plot of the log of the storage modulus bears a linear relationship with the log of density for solid as well as closed-cell microcellular rubber. The slope of the line is found to be temperature-dependent. The relative storage modulus decreases with decrease in the relative density. It was also observed that the storage modulus and tan δ are both frequency- and temperature-dependent. The storage modulus results are superposed to form master curves of the modulus vs. Iog temperature-reduced frequency, using shift factors calculated by the Arrhenius equation. Strain-dependent isothermal dynamic mechanical analysis was carried out for DSA varying from 0.07 to 5%. The effect of blowing agent loading on the storage modulus (E′) and loss tangent (tan δ) were also studied. Cole-Cole plots of microcellular rubber shows a circular arc relationship with the density. Plots of tan δ against E′ were found to exhibit a linear relationship. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Frontal curing of epoxy resins: Comparison of mechanical and thermal properties to batch-cured materials

The epoxy resin diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF) was cured by the aliphatic amine curing agent Epicure 3371 in a stoichiometric ratio both frontally and in a batch-cure schedule. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). DMA also was used for studying the storage modulus (E′) and tan delta (tan δ) of the cured samples. Tensile properties of epoxy samples were tested according to ASTM D638M-93. The properties of the frontally cured epoxy resin were found to be very close to that of batch-cured epoxy resin. Velocity of cure-front propagation was measured for both neat and filled epoxy. Rubber particles (ground tires) were used as a filler. The maximum percentage of filler in the epoxy resin allowing propagation was 30%. Because of convection, only descending fronts would propagate. Advantages and disadvantages of frontal curing of epoxy resins are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1209–1216, 1997     

Effects of the electron‐beam absorption dose on the glass transition,thermal expansion,dynamic mechanical properties,and water uptake of polycardanol containing epoxy groups cured by an electron beam

In this study, the glass transition, thermal expansion, dynamic mechanical properties, and water‐uptake behaviors of diepoxidized polycardanol (DEPC) cured by electron‐beam radiation in the presence of cationic photoinitiators were investigated. How the type and concentration of cationic photoinitiators and the electron‐beam absorption dose influenced the properties of the cured DEPC was also studied. Two types of cationic photoinitiators, triarylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate (simply referred to as phosphate type or P‐type) and triarylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate (simply referred to as antimonate type or Sb‐type), were used. Electron‐beam absorption doses of 200, 300, 400, and 600 kGy were applied to the uncured diepoxidized cardanol (DEC) samples, respectively. It was revealed that the Sb‐type photoinitiator was preferable to the electron‐beam curing of DEC; this led to a lower photoinitiator concentration and/or a lower electron‐beam absorption dose compared to that in the phosphate‐type photoinitiator. As a result, the variations in the glass‐transition temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, storage modulus, and water uptake of the cured DEPC were quite consistent with each other. We found that the optimal conditions for the enhanced properties of DEPC by electron‐beam curing were an Sb‐type photoinitiator at 2 wt % and an electron‐beam absorption dose of 600 kGy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42570.