MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPATIBILIZED POLYAMIDE6-LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER COMPOSITES

The blend behaviour of polyamide 6 (PA6) and thermotropic liquid cryst alline polymer (LCP) compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted poly propylene (MAP) was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy ( SEM), drop weight Charpy impact test, static tensile and dynamic mecha nical measurements. The blending was performed via direct injection mo ulding of PA6(MAP) with LCP pellets at 285 degrees C. Tensile measurem ents indicated that the tensile strength and modulus increase with inc reasing LCP content and the mechanical properties are above prediction s of the rule of mixtures. This was correlated with the formation of L CP fibrils with large aspect ratios in both skin and core sections of the PA6(MAP)/LCP blends. Charpy impact test showed that the impact fra cture toughness decreases significantly with the addition of small amo unts of LCP content. However, the impact toughness appeared to increas e as the LCP content is above 30 wt%. This was attributed to the enhan ced fibrillation of the LCP dispersed phase at higher concentration. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.