• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.454-462
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• 1997

Thermotropic block copolyester(TLCP-b-PBN) based on poly(tetramethylene 2,6-(naphthaloyldioxy)dibenzoates)(TLCP) and poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate)(PBN) was synthesized by solution polycondensation and melt-blended with poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate)(PEN) for in-situ composites. The TLCP domains showed nematic behavior in melt. The composition of block copolymer was determined from $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy. The DSC thermogram of block copolymer revealed the presence of two major melting transitions, corresponding to the separete melting of PBN and TLCP domains. The glass transition temperature(Tg) of the PEN in the blends decreased with increasing the content of TLCP-b-PBN and the TLCP-b-PBN acted as a nucleating agent for the matrix polymers. In the 20% TLCP-b-PBN blend, well oriented TLCP fibriles were observed at temperature above the melting point of the PEN by optical microscopy. By scanning electron micrographs of cryogenically fractured surfaces of extruded blends, the TLCp domains were found to be finely and uniformely dispersed in 0.15 to $0.2{\mu}m$ size. Interfacial adhesion between the TLCP and matrix polymer was seemed to be good. Under certain condition TLCP formed a fiver structure in the PEN matrix, with thin oriented TLCP fibril in the skin region and spherical TLCP domains in the core.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1215-1219
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• 2007

In this paper, we present a study on the polypropylene/thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends. In previous researches, the blends are fabricated at very high temperatures, at least 300oC, since the TLCPs investigated in most studies have melting temperatures higher than 270oC. As a consequence, the thermal degradation of PP can not be avoidable. In order to obtain high physical properties, the excess amount of TLCP must be added. In this study, a new type of TLCP was used in the PP/TLCP blends. Since the new TLCP has a melting point of 220oC, the blending can be performed at much lower temperature than the previous studios. The new PP/TLCP shows similar or somewhat higher physical properties than those of the previous studies. It is proved that the new TLCP can be used as a reinforcement material in PP based blends.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 2004

A new thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) containing a triad aromatic ester type mesogenic unit and butylene terephthalate unit(BT) in the main chain was synthesized by polycondensation reaction. The TLCP synthesized showed nematic mesophasic behavior and its transition temperature from solid to mesophase was $260^{\circ}C$. The TLCP/PBT blends were prepared by in-situ polymerization in PBT solution and characterized by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), thermogavimetric analyzer(TGA), scanning electron microscope(SEM), x-ray diffractometer(XRD), and dynamic mechanical thermal analyze, (DMTA). The blends showed well dispersed TLCP phases with domain sizes $0.05{\sim}0.2{\mu}m$ in the PBT matrix. As the increasing TLCP content from 5 to 20 wt%, ${\Delta}Hm$ values of pure PBT in the blend were increased because TLCP acts as a nucleating agent in the PBT matrix. The mechanical properties of the blends depended on the TLCP contents because the TLCP acted effectively as a reinforcing material in the PBT matrix. The blends showed good interfacial adhesion between the TLCP phase and PBT matrix.The blends prepared by in-situ polymerization showed higher mechanical properties and well dispersed TLCP domains than those of the blends prepared by melt blending.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.244-257
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• 2002

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) which has flexible butylene/hexylene spacers in the main chain and a triad aromatic ester type mesogenic unit containing a naphthyl group was prepared by solution polycondensation. The in-situ composites based on poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) were prepared and melt spun at different TLCP contents and different draw ratios to produce monofilaments. Blends of the TLCP with PEN were investigated in terms of thermal, mechanical properties and morphology. The TLCP synthesized showed nematic mesophasic behavior and its transition temperature to isotropic melt from mesophase was 249℃. The blends showed well dispersed TLCP phases in the PEN matrix without macroscopic phase separation. Inclusion of TLCP in the blends decreased the cold crystallization temperature of PEN in the blend, therefore, the TLCP acts as a nucleating agent in the blend and showed good interfacial adhesion between the dispersed LCP phases and PEN matrix with domain sizes 40~50 nm in diameter and well developed fibrillation in the monofilaments. The TLCP acted effectively as a reinforcing material in the PEN matrix at the 10wt% level, it led to an increase of initial modulus up to 270% and tensile strength by 235%, while the elongation rate increasing with higher draw ratios.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2005

Polymer composites based on a thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer (TLCP) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) were prepared using a melt blending process. Polymer composites consisting of bulk cheap polyester with a small quantity of expensive TLCP are of interest from a commercial perspective. The interactions between the PBT chains and the flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) units in the TLCP phase resulted in an improvement in the compatibility of PBT/TLCP composites. TLCP droplets deformed and fragmented into smaller droplets in the PBT/TLCP composites, which resulted in TLCP fibrillation through the effective deformation of the TLCP droplets. The nucleation activities of the PBT/TLCP composites increased by adding even a small amount of the TLCP component.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.101-101
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• 2003

TLCP/Polyester binary blends were prepared by melt blending. Rheological, morphological, and thermal properties of of TLCP/polyester blends were investigated with viscosity ratio. Diameter of TLCP fibrils decreased with viscosity ratio. More and smaller TLCP fibrils were obtained at higher shear rate. Lower viscosity ratio was necessary for the fibrillation of TLCP in the binary blends.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.358-366
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• 2006

Thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (TLCP)-reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites were prepared by melt processing. The improvement in the mechanical properties and the processability of the PBT/TLCP composites was attributed to the reinforcing effect by TLCP phase and its well distribution in the PBT matrix. X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that a slow cooling process leads to the thicker lamellar structures and the formation of more regular crystallites in the composites. The incorporation of TLCP improves not only the tensile strength and flexural modulus but also the heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the PBT/TLCP composites. The HDT values of the composites were dependent on TLCP content. The improvement in the HDT values of the PBT/TLCP composites may be explained in terms with the increased flexural modulus, the development of more regular crystalline structures, and the enhancement of the ability of the composites to sustain the storage modulus by TLCP phase. In addition, the simple additivity rule makes it possible to predict the HDT values of the PBT/TLCP composites.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.148-153
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• 1999

In situ composites containing a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer were prepared by polycondensation of 1,4-bis(p-hydroxy-benzoyloxy)butane with 2-bromoterephthaloyl chloride in a poly(methyl methacrylate) solution. Morphology and mechanical, thermal properties of the composites were examined by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analyser(DMTA), optical microscope and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The TLCP domains showed nematic phase. The glass transition temperature($T_g$) and mechanical properties of the PMMA in the composites increased with increasing the content of TLCP. The TLCP domains were finely dispersed in the PMMA matrix. The 20 wt % TLCP/PMMA composite prepared by in situ polymerization showed more improved mechanical property with finely well dispersed morphology compared with that prepared by solution blending of the same composition.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.399-406
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• 2000

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) containing a flexible spacer was synthesized from hydroquinone, p-hydrofybenzoic acid, and 1,6-dibromohexane. Intercalation of TLCP in layered clays is accomplished by heating the polymer with dodecyl ammonium-montmorillonite (C$_{12}$-MMT) above melt transition temperature (T$_{m}$). Liquid crystallinity of the TLCP/C$_{12}$-MMT hybrid was not observed when $C_{12}$-MMT content was above 1 wt%. Some of the $C_{12}$-MMTs in TLCP were highly dispersed in a nanometer scale, but some of them were agglomerated. Thermal and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), polarized optical microscope, and electron microscopes (SEM and TEM). TEM).

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2016

The isothermal crystallization behaviors of blends of poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as functions of crystallization temperature and blend composition. Avrami analyses were applied to obtain information on the crystal growth geometry and the factors controlling the rate of crystallization. The crystallization kinetics of the PEN/TLCP blends followed the Avrami equation up to a high degree of crystallization, regardless of crystallization temperature. The calculated Avrami exponents for PEN/TLCP revealed three-dimensional growth of the crystalline region in each blend. The crystallization rate of each blend increased as the crystallization temperature decreased, and decreased as the TLCP content increased. The crystallization of PEN in the blend was affected by the addition of TLCP, which acts as a nucleating agent.