SHEAR CONTROLLED ORIENTATION

Shear controlled orientation technology can enhance the mechanical pro perties of semicrystalline thermoplastics and liquid crystal polymers (LCP). The application of macroscopic shears to a solidifying semicrys talline melt provides for development of microstructure that enable su bstantial increases in stiffness to be achieved without loss of impact strength, and indeed simultaneous increases in stiffness and toughnes s are possible.