Properties of Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer Blends

Abstract

Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs) form a special class of material that incorporates the anisotropic behavior of the liquid crystalline state with the characteristics of polymers, leading to unique chemical and physical properties. In thermoplastic (TP) blends there is a close interrelationship between the packing of polymer chains, miscibility, and molecular motion, and this is likely to be particularly true in rigid chain TLCP systems that are close packed. In TLCPs the frequency crossover seen between the terminal and plateau zones, behavior is more likely to result from effects of chain rigidity, packing, and intermolecular association between different molecules. TLCP melts are mesomorphic with low viscosity and excellent mechanical properties in the solid state and can be molded with equipment used for conventional random coil, TP materials. The TLCP used as the compatibilizer was immiscible with the other TLCP used in the blend but strongly adhered to it in the solid state.