| Title: LIQUID CRYSTAL FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE AND
PROCESS FOR PREPARING SAME Inventor(s): A. Isayev,
M. Modic
Disclosure 76-CIP U.S. Patent 4,728,698
Novel self-reinforced polymer composites of a base polymer with a melt processable
liquid crystal polymer are prepared. The base polymer is a flexible chain polymer, e.g. a
conventional thermoplastic. Polycarbonate is a particularly suitable base polymer. The
liquid crystal polymer is melt processable, that is, it has a melting point and exhibits
anisotropic properties in the melt phase. Wholly aromatic copolyesters are particularly
suitable. Mixing is carried out at a temperature at which both the base polymer and liquid
crystal are melt processable (i.e., at a temperature at which the base polymer flows
readily and the liquid crystal polymer is above its melting point).
The products of this invention comprise about 2-20% by weight of liquid crystal
polymer, in the form of essentially unidirectionally oriented continuous fibers, primarily
in the range of about 1 to 10 micrometers in diameter, distributed in a matrix of the base
polymer. Suitable matrix polymers (comprised by weight from about 80-98%) include
conventional thermoplastic material such as PE, PP, EPM, PS, PVC, PA, PET, PEEK, PPS, PEI,
PBT, and PC.
The polymer composites of this invention have high tensile strength in both the fiber
direction and the transverse direction, and have high modulus, satisfactory elongation,
good impact strength and good high temperature properties.
This technology is ideally suited for high performance applications such as electrical,
electronics, aerospace, automotive, marine and medical where increased performance of the
matrix polymer is desired. This technology due to the blending ratio is excellent for
price sensitive products requiring increased performance. |
