Phase Transitions In Blends Of Liquid Crystalline Polymer/Polyether Imide

Abstract

A thermotropic liquid crystalline copolymer consisting of bisphenol E diacetate, isophthalic acid and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid was blended with polyether imide by dissolving in a mixed solvent of phenol/1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane in a ratio of 60/40 w/w and co-precipitating the ternary solution in non-solvent (methanol). Wide-angle x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that the blends were completely amorphous with a single glass transition temperature. The single phase was probably entrapped during solvent removal, but these mixes were unstable and phase separated upon heating. Mesophase structure developed in the LCP rich region with continued annealing. The evolution of crystalline texture was monitored by time-resolved wide-angle x-ray diffraction following a temperature jump from ambient to 265 °C. The recrystallization process of LCP was found to slow down in the blend state relative to that of the neat LCP.