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Blends of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a thermoplastic elastomer. I: Mechanical properties and morphology
Author(s) -
Verhoogt H.,
Langelaan H. C.,
Van Dam J.,
de Boer A. Posthuma
Publication year - 1993
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.760331206
Subject(s) - thermotropic crystal , materials science , thermoplastic elastomer , liquid crystalline , morphology (biology) , elastomer , composite material , polymer , polymer science , thermoplastic , copolymer , biology , genetics
Blends of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP), Vectra A900, and a thermoplastic elastomer, Kraton G1650, were made on a single screw extruder. During extrusion, fibers of the LCP are formed under influence of shearing and elongating forces. The stiffness and tensile strength of the elastomer are greatly improved by the addition of the LCP. The modulus of elasticity of blends containing up to 20% LCP can be described well with the Halpin‐Tsai equation. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) measurements show that the polymers are immiscible, but the DMTA results show a shift of the glass transition temperature of the elastomeric block of the Kraton polymer. This shift may be attributed to a layer of elastomer adsorbed on the LCP particles.