Elastic moduli of a liquid crystalline polymer and its in‐situ composites

Abstract

AbstractThe elastic moduli of a liquid crystalline polyesteramide (LCP) and polycarbonate/LCP in‐situ composites with 10 to 80 wt% of LCP have been measured as functions of draw ratio λ from 1 to 15 by an ultrasonic method. For the LCP, the sharp rise of the axial Young's modulus E3 and the slight decreases of the transverse Young's modulus E1 and the axial (C44) and transverse (C66) shear modulus with increasing λ result from the alignment of chains along the draw direction. E1, C44, and C66 follow the lower bounds calculated using the series coupling scheme of the aggregate model. Although E3 lies close to the lower bound at low λ, it follows the upper bound calculated according to the parallel coupling scheme at λ > 3. The elastic moduli of the composites have similar draw ratio dependences as those of the LCP. The strong increase in E3 with increasing λ arises from the higher aspect ratio of the LCP domains in the composites and the improved molecular orientation within the domains. The reinforcement effect on the other moduli is much weaker, with E1 and C44 of the composites only 5 to 30% higher than those of polycarbonate at λ = 15. Since C66 of the LCP decreases to a value below that of polycarbonate at λ > 2, there is a positive reinforcement effect at low λ but a negative effect at high λ.