THE EFFECT OF BLOCK STRUCTURE OF AN ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE HYDROXYBENZOATE COPOLYMER ON ITS ABILITY TO FROM COMPATIBLE BLENDS/

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) containing aliphatic linkages exhibits properties of both a random-coil and a rigid-rod. By varying its block structure, one can change its ability to form compa tible blends with other polymers. In this work, the ability of the TLC P p(ET/HBA60) with a high degree of block structure, X-7G(TM), to form compatible blends with polycarbonate and aromatic TLCPs is compared t o that of a p(ET/HBA60) with a more random molecular structure, Rodrun (TM) LC-3000. It was found that both materials formed compatible blend s through transesterification of the block structure and that a higher degree of blockiness enhanced the rate of transesterification. NMR sp ectra and differential thermal analysis were used to quantify the degr ee of transesterification and scanning electron microscopy was utilize d to examine the effects of the blending process on the degree of comp atibilization and the morphology of the resulting blends.