VISCOELASTICITY OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE COPOLYMER POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) BLENDS - EFFECT OF REINFORCEMENT BY ALUMINUM BORATE WHISKERS

The elastic moduli and mechanical losses for blends of liquid-crystall ine copolyester (LCP) and PMMA have been determined at various tempera tures. The specimens were produced by the extrusion of preliminary mix ed components. In the course of extrusion, a system is formed where th e LCP forms thin fibers imbedded into a PMMA matrix. The greatest effe ct of the reinforcement of the thermoplastic matrix with LCP was found for a 7/3 ratio of components. The effect of fillers (whiskers) was a lso investigated. It is shown that the reinforcing action of the fille r is much higher for the 7/3 blends as compared with the reinforced pu re components. The effects observed are explained by features of the i nterphase formation in the reinforced systems and the surface segregat ion of art LCP-component.