Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Abstract

The remarkable mechanical properties and thermal stability of fibers fabricated from liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) have led to the use of these materials in structural applications where weight savings are critical. Advances in processing of LCPs could permit the incorporation of these polymers into other than uniaxial designs and extend their utility into new areas such as nonlinear optical devices. However, the unique feature of LCPs--intrinsic orientation order--is itself problematic, and current understanding of processing with control of orientation falls short of allowing manipulation of macroscopic orientation (except for the case of uniaxial fibers). This report reviews the current and desirable characteristics of LCPs and identifies specific problems and issues that must be addressed so that advances in the use of these unique polymers can be expedited. Keywords: Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs); Fibers; Thermotropic; Lyotropic; Processing; Rheology; Nonlinear optical properties; Blends; Composites.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1990
Accession Number
ADA223253

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical And Dental Materials
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Fiber Spinning
  • Manufacturing
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Polymer Degradation
  • Polymeric Films

Readers

  • Polymer Science and Technology
  • Reinforced Composite Materials
  • Systems Analysis and Design