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Studies on blends of melt‐processable liquid crystalline polymers and thermoplastics. I. Blend of polyesteramide with polyethylene
Author(s) -
Me A. R. R.,
Sudha J. D.,
Brahmakumar M.,
Pillai C. K. S.,
Kuriakose A. P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4628(20001205)78:10<1811::aid-app130>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , materials science , differential scanning calorimetry , crystallinity , thermogravimetric analysis , polymer blend , scanning electron microscope , polyethylene , composite material , thermotropic crystal , polymer , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , liquid crystalline , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
The processability characteristics, physicomechanical properties, and thermal decomposition characteristics of blends of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyesteramide (PEA), a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, were studied using various analytical techniques. Studies on a Brabender Plasticorder at temperatures ranging from 170 to 230°C showed good melt processability for the blends. The melt rheology of the blends containing 0–15% of PEA at 170°C was studied using a capillary rheometer (Goettfert) fitted with a circular die (L/D = 30/1) at apparent shear rates ranging from 12 to 2300 s −1 . The samples containing PEA showed a comparatively lower die swell at high shear rates. X‐ray diffraction measurements showed a reduction in crystallinity of LDPE in the presence of 2–4% of PEA. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the morphology of the fractured surface of the blend showed some degree of orientation, but not to the level typical of LCPs. However, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated significant improvement in the resistance to thermooxidative decomposition of LDPE modified with PEA. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1811–1817, 2000