Low naphthenic liquid crystalline polymer composition
First Claim
1. A thermoplastic composition that comprises at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, wherein the total amount of repeating units in the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or naphthenic dicarboxylic acids is no more than 15 mol. %, the thermoplastic composition further comprising at least one aromatic carboxylic acid, and further wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt viscosity of from about 0.1 to about 80 Pa-s, as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443 at a shear rate of 1000 seconds−
- 1 and temperature that is 15°
C. above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic composition.
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Abstract
A thermoplastic composition that comprises a low-naphthenic, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blended with a flow modifier is provided. The flow modifier is an aromatic carboxylic acid that contains one or more carboxyl functional groups. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the functional groups can react with the polymer chain to shorten its length and thus reduce melt viscosity. It is also believed that such acids can combine smaller chains of the polymer together after they have been cut during processing. This helps maintain the mechanical properties of the composition even after its melt viscosity has been reduced. As a result of the present invention, the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic composition is generally low enough so that it can readily flow into the cavity of a mold having small dimensions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A thermoplastic composition that comprises at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, wherein the total amount of repeating units in the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or naphthenic dicarboxylic acids is no more than 15 mol. %, the thermoplastic composition further comprising at least one aromatic carboxylic acid, and further wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt viscosity of from about 0.1 to about 80 Pa-s, as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443 at a shear rate of 1000 seconds−
- 1 and temperature that is 15°
C. above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic composition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- 1 and temperature that is 15°
- 14. A molded part having at least one dimension of about 500 micrometers or less, wherein the molded part contains a thermoplastic composition that comprises at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, wherein the total amount of repeating units in the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or naphthenic dicarboxylic acids is no more than 15 mol. %, the thermoplastic composition further comprising at least one aromatic carboxylic acid.
Specification