Synthesis, Properties and Processability of a New Class of Semirigid Liquid Crystalline Copolyesteramides

Abstract

A new family of semirigid main chain liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), referred to as SBAN, characterized by fairly good processability and mechanical properties, and improved thermal resistance, have been synthesized by the melt polycondensation of sebacic acid (S), 4,4′-dihyhxybiphenyl (B), 4-aminobenzoic acid (A), and 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid (N), in a wide range of compositions. The molar concentration of the A ahd N units, in these LCPs must be kept lower than ca 40 and 60%, respectively, in order to avoid the formation of homopolymeric blocks, which impair spinnability. The presence of A units grants the formation of hydrogen bonds between neighboring macromolecules, and this leads to higher tensile moduli and improved thermal resistance, with respect to analogous semirigid LC polyesters.