THE RECLAMATION OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER BYTHE CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF POLYPROPYLENE VIA REACTIVE EXTRUSION

摘要

Polypropylene reinforced with Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymers (TLCP's) represents a wholly thermoplastic composite which is lightweight, rapidly processable, and high in stiffness and strength. Because of the relative cost of the TLCP, it is desirable to recycle at least this component of the composite. This work is concerned with the use of organic peroxides to chemically degrade the polypropylene (PP). Due to the decrease in molecular weight of the PP, the viscosity difference between the matrix and reinforcing materials grows to orders of magnitude. The large difference in viscosity, density, chemical composition, and melting point is utilized in a new, novel separation process to successfully separate the two materials. The reclaimed TLCP is recombined with virgin resin and the mechanical properties of injection molded samples are compared to those of the virgin resin.