Processing Studies of Blends of Polypropylene with Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Abstract

Several processing methods to improve the mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) by blending them with liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) have been investigated in this study. Injection molded plaques of PP blended with LCPs showed significant improvements in the modulus but not exhibit any increase in tensile strengths and had poor surface finish. Higher tensile strength and better surface finish were obtained by compatibilization of PP with LCP. Compatibilization was carried out by a reactive extrusion process in which PP was grafted to LCP and it also further enhanced the modulus of the PP/LCP blends. Finally the compatibilized and the non-compatibilized PP/LCP blended plaques were processed by solid phase forming techniques in which the composites were deformed after preheating them below the melting point of the LCPs. This led to substantial increase in their modulus while not altering their tensile strengths.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA232961

Entities

People

  • A. Datta
  • A. P. Sukhadia
  • D. G. Baird
  • J. P. De Souza

Organizations

  • Virginia Tech

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blending
  • Composite Materials
  • Compression Molding
  • Copolymers
  • Critical Temperature
  • Injection Molding
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Melting
  • Melting Point
  • Polymers
  • Polypropylene
  • Solid Phases
  • Tensile Properties
  • Tensile Strength
  • Thermoplastic Resins

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Polymer Science and Technology