Improved thermal and mechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate) by polymer blending with a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester

摘要

A novel polymer blending system consisting of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester [LCP: a poly(4-hydroxybenzoate)-based polymer] was investigated in the presence and absence of a polycarbodiimide (PCD) and/or 1,1′-carbonyl biscaprolactam (CBC) as chain extenders. Although the LCP was immiscible with PBS, it formed elongated fibrous domains having an orientation in the flowing direction when an extensional flow was applied during the processing. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the injection-molded polymer blends supported the distribution of micro fibrils of LCP in the PBS matrix by which the efficient toughening was provided. These blend specimens showed highly improved mechanical properties along with retaining high dynamic storage-moduli (E′) up to the melting temperature of PBS.