PLATE HEAT-EXCHANGERS IN LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMERS

A new concept for a liquid-liquid plate heat exchanger has been studie d using thermoplastic polymers. Considering their advantages, polymers called LCP 'liquid crystal polymers', have been developed in the labo ratory from a base formulation of pure LCP (SPER1) to improved formula tions (SPER1?) using fillers as silica powder, glass and carbon fibres . A fully aromatic structure (SPER12FA) and a modified fully aromatic structure (SPER12IA) were also developed and synthesized. Corrosion an d mechanical tests in the laboratory with a selected LCP (SPER12IA) ha ve shown a relatively low chemical resistance and high mechanical resi stance in comparison with commercial LCP Vectra. Thermal tests have sh own a relatively low level of the heat-transfer coefficient. (C) Europ ean Communities 1997. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.