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X‐ray microscopy of novel thermoplastic/liquid crystalline polymer blends by mechanical alloying
Author(s) -
Smith A. P.,
Bai C.,
Ade H.,
Spontak R. J.,
Balik C. M.,
Koch C. C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3927(19981101)19:11<557::aid-marc557>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , thermoplastic , polymer blend , thermoplastic polymer , optical microscope , microscopy , composite material , liquid crystal , mixing (physics) , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , copolymer , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , optics , engineering
Incorporation of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) into commodity polymers remains a challenge in the design of high‐performance, low‐cost polymeric blends. Blends of a thermoplastic polymer and a nematic LCP are produced here by mechanical alloying. Functionality sensitive X‐ray microscopy reveals LCP dispersions as small as 100 nm in diameter. Intimate mixing remains upon subsequent melt processing, indicating that mechanical alloying is suited for applications such as recycling.