Di Pietro, AdrianoCompston, Paul2015-12-080022-2461http://hdl.handle.net/1885/29684Experimental results on properties achieved for bulk vinylester resin and a glass-fibre/vinylester composite cured through exposure to high intensity UV light, was reported. An epoxy vinylester resin was formulated ratio by weight of phosphine oxide-based photoinitiator. The bulk resin was poured into a 10 mm diameter cylindrical mould to a depth of 8 mm. The mould was placed under a high-intensity UV spotlight. The diameter of the aperture at the tip of the guide was 1 mm and the distance from the tip to the surface of the resin was 20 mm. Rockwell hardness testing for polymers was conducted according to ASTM D 785-89. A composite laminate for interlaminar shear testing was made by hand lay-up unidirectional E-glass fibres. Test samples were cut from the laminate using a watercooled diamond saw. The shear strength result and the observed fracture behavior support a conclusion that a high degree of cure and mechanical performance can be attained with high intensity UV curing.Keywords: Composite laminate; Degree of cure; Diamond saw; E-glass; Fracture behavior; Hand lay-up; High intensity; Interlaminar shear; Interlaminar shear strength; Mechanical performance; Phosphine oxide; Photo-initiator; Rockwell hardness; Test samples; Ultraviol200910.1007/s10853-009-3544-22016-02-24