Structure and property relationship of thermotropic liquid crystal polymer and polyester composite fibers

Abstract

Poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composite fibers reinforced with a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (TLCP) were prepared by the melt blending and spinning process to achieve high performance fibers with improved processability. Polymer composite fibers consisting of cheap polyester and small quantity of expensive TLCP are of interest from an economic point of view and from an industrial perspective. The increase in the birefringence and density of the TLCP/ PEN/PET composite fibers with the spinning speed was attributable to the enhancement of the molecular orientation and effective packing between chains in the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. Annealing process resulted in the formation of more ordered and perfect crystalline structure and higher crystallinity, improving the mechanical properties of the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. The increase in the crystallite size and the degree of chain extension with increasing spinning speed resulted in the gradual increment of the long period for the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 2211-2219, 2006