Novel Polymeric Materials With Superior Mechanical Properties via Ionic Interactions

摘要

We have developed novel liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) in which ionic groups (ionic bonds) are incorporated. A base polymer of ionic LCPs is a wholly aromatic polyester, better known as Vectra of Hoechst-Celanese. Due to an increase in lateral interactions between LCP chains via ionic bonds, a significant increase in mechanical properties (both in tension and compression) has been observed. Especially important is the finding that the compressive properties can be enhanced without losing excellent tensile properties. This is not possible via introduction of covalent cross-links. Coupled with thermal process ability of these ionic LCPs, this method will be used to produce LCPs with improved compressive properties. We have also found that blending of ionic Vectra with a polar polymer, typically used as an engineering polymer, leads to significant enhancement in mechanical properties of the parent polymer. It should be added that the amount of ionic Vectra added is small (e.g., 10 %), thus this is a very useful approach to develop polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical properties of parent polymers.