Abstract
AbstractThis study investigates deformation of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) in different die geometries. Blends of aTLCP with a thermiplastic elastomer of EPDM were made in a twin‐screw extruder. Morphological observation of the extruded blends demonstrates the complimentary effect of shear in the die exit on dispersed phase deformation and fibril formation. Shear strain can affect fibril formation for a relatively large dispersed phase in the region close to the die wall. However, the main role of shearing is in breaking up the larger particles and initial polydomain structure. A strong elongational deformation on the blended melt after the die exit is required, and fine microfibrils normally obnserved in in situ composites were not easily formed by shear deformation only in the die.
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