A STUDY ON THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF AN ORIENTED THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER

The orientation and mechanical behavior of a Vectra were investigated and the results showed the different orientation manifested due to the shear stresses of the flow fields and elongational forces of the dive rging dies. This flow behavior was remarkably similar to that of reinf orcing fibers in the thermoplastic matrix. However, the mechanical str ength of the TLCP extrudates increased in every direction as the angle of diverging dies or the rotor speed of the screw increased, which ma kes about contrast TLCP with fiber reinforced composites. Based on thi s analogy and contrast between TLCPs and FRTP, we proposed a simple co mposite model to explain the elastic properties of TLCP materials and analyzed the reported experimental data in the light of the proposed m odel. The result of such analysis illustrated well the role of structu ral parameters such as the aspect ratio and volume fraction of fibrill ar nematic domains.