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Transmission of mechanical energy through polymeric liquid crystals and their blends
Author(s) -
Brostow Witold,
Dziemianowicz Theodore S.,
Romanski Janusz,
Werber Walter
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760281204
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , rheology , phase (matter) , polymer , phase inversion , transmission electron microscopy , liquid crystal , polymer blend , nanotechnology , copolymer , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , chemistry , membrane , biology , genetics
Molecular composites, also called polymeric liquid crystals (PLC), are contrasted with the traditional composites; the name heterogeneous composites is proposed for the latter. Advantages of blending PLCs with ordinary engineering polymers are discussed. Results reported for blends of poly(ethylene terepthalate) (PET) with a PLC containing sequences of PET and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) include thermophysical properties, melt rheology, mechanical properties of solid blends, and scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces. A model called the island model was developed to explain the results: One assumes that the lines of force as well as propagating cracks tend to concentrate in the phase rich in the more flexible engineering polymer, avoiding the islands rich in the liquid‐crystalline phase. This prevails until the phase inversion occurs. Predictions from the model are fully confirmed by the experimental evidence.