Blends of liquid crystalline polymers and poly(arylene sulfide)s having reduced viscosities

Blends of poly(arylene sulfide)s, liquid crystalline polyesters and liquid crystalline poly(esteramide)s exhibit a lower melt viscosity than would be expected based on the melt viscosities of analogous blends of liquid crystalline polyesters and poly(arylene sulfide)s that have the same overall amount of liquid crystalline polymer. The viscosities are reduced over a wide range of compositions. Such blends are useful in the manufacture of electronic components, particularly connectors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to polymer blends, and more specifically, 
to blends of liquid crystalline polymers and poly(arylene sulfides). 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Polymers are often blended together and compounded with fillers to obtain a 
desired mix of properties for a particular application at an economic 
cost. In general, blends have properties that are approximately the 
average of the properties of the individual components. If severe phase 
separation occurs, the properties of the blend may be poorer than the 
average of the properties of the individual components. Only rarely are 
properties obtained that are better than the average of the properties of 
the components. 
Blends of liquid crystalline polyesters and poly(arylene sulfide)s are 
known in the art, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,397. These blends 
have properties that make then useful in the electronics industry. 
Blends of liquid crystalline poly(esteramides) and poly(phenylene sulfide)s 
have been reported in two publications, one by L. I. Minkova et al in 
Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 32 (No. 1), Mid-January, 1992, pp. 
57-64, the other by S. M. Hong et al, Polymer Journal, vol. 24 (No. 8), 
1992, pp. 727-736. The poly(phenylene sulfide) component of these blends 
shows an accelerated crystallization rate compared with unblended 
poly(phenylene sulfide). 
Blends of wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyesters and liquid 
crystalline poly(esteramides) have been reported in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,567,227. Molded articles made from these blends are reported to show an 
improvement in certain physical properties compared with the average of 
the properties of the individual polymers. These blends are also reported 
as having a lower melt viscosity than that of either polymer component. 
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,15 1,458 discloses poly(arylene sulfide) molding 
compounds which have reduced melt viscosity and higher rates of 
crystallization through the addition of low molecular weight (i.e. 
non-polymeric) liquid crystal esters and/or esteramides. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been found that blends comprising a liquid crystalline 
polyester, a liquid crystalline poly(esteramide) and a poly(arylene 
sulfide) have a lower melt viscosity than is expected based on the the 
melt viscosities of analogous blends of liquid crystalline polyesters and 
poly(arylene sulfides) having the same total content of liquid crystalline 
polymer. The amount of the liquid crystalline poly(esteramide) included in 
the polymeric composition can be chosen so that the melt viscosity of the 
composition is reduced by at least about 5% in comparison with the melt 
viscosity of the same blend where all of the liquid crystalline polymer is 
in the form of liquid crystalline polyester. A method is also disclosed 
for making blends of liquid crystalline polyesters and poly(arylene 
sulfides) having reduced melt viscosity by substituting a sufficient 
amount of liquid crystalline poly(esteramide) in place of a portion of the 
liquid crystalline polyester that the melt viscosity of the blend is 
reduced by at least about 5%. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Liquid crystalline polymers and liquid crystalline polyesters (referred to 
hereinafter respectively as "LCP's" and "LCP polyesters") are well known 
in the art. The polymer chains are relatively linear, so that the polymers 
melt to form a liquid crystalline phase. Such polymers are often referred 
to as thermotropic LCP's and thermotropic LCP polyesters. LCP polyesters 
are made by polymerizing aromatic diacids, diols and/or hydroxy acids 
having the formula: 
EQU X--Ar--Y 
where --X and --Y are alike or different and are selected from --OH, 
--COOH, and reactive derivatives of these that result in the formation of 
ester units during polymerization. In at least some of the monomer units 
in the above formula, and very often in all of the monomer units, Ar is 
one or more of 1,3-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 
2,7-naphthylene, and 4,4'-biphenylene, with 1,4-phenylene, 
2,6-naphthylene, and 4,4'-biphenylene being preferred. Ar may optionally 
be substituted on the aromatic ring with one or more moieties selected 
from lower alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbons, an aromatic group, F, Cl, 
Br and I. Aliphatic monomer units or partially aliphatic monomer units are 
also sometimes included in the polymers, as for example monomer units 
derived from ethylene glycol or stilbenedicarboxylic acid. The synthesis 
and structures of LCP polyesters are taught in numerous U.S. Pat. Nos. 
including, for example, 4,473,682; 4,522,974; 4,375,530; 4,318,841; 
4,256,624; 4,161,470; 4,219,461; 4,083,829; 4,184,996; 4,279,803; 
4,337,190; 4,355,134; 4,429,105; 4,393,191; and 4,421,908. LCP polyesters 
are available from Hoechst Celanese Corporation under the Vectra.RTM. 
trademark, as well as from other manufacturers under other names. 
A particularly preferred LCP polyester comprises monomer repeat units 
selected from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, as 
taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,470. In particularly preferred embodiments, 
monomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid comprise about 70% to 
about 80% of the polymer and monomer units derived from 
6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid comprise about 30% to about 20% of the polymer. 
In the most preferred embodiment, the LCP polyester comprises about 73% 
monomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and about 27% monomer 
units derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Another preferred LCP 
polyester comprises monomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 
6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, terephthalic acid and 4,4'-biphenol, as taught 
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,682, with a particularly preferred LCP polyester 
comprising about 60% 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, about 4% 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic 
acid, about 18% 4,4'-biphenol and about 18% terephthalic acid. 
The LCP polyesters that are utilized in the current invention generally 
have a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) greater than about 5000 
and preferably greater than about 10,000. The preferred LCP polyester 
comprising monomer units derived from about 73% 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 
27% 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid preferably has a molecular weight (M.sub.w) 
greater than about 20,000 and often in the range of about 30,000 to about 
40,000. Molecular weights in the low end of the above range (i.e., M.sub.w 
starting as low as about 5,000) may also be utilized in the current 
invention. To achieve such low molecular weights, the addition of a small 
amount of an end-tapping monomer unit or a slight imbalance in 
stoichiometry may be necessary. For example, a small amount of 
terephthalic acid may be included in polymers derived from 
6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to reduce the 
molecular weight. 
Liquid crystalline poly(esteramide)s, referred to hereinafter as "LCP 
poly(esteramide)s," are also well known in the art. They are generally 
made from the same monomer units as LCP polyesters, except that some or 
all of the hydroxyl groups in the monomers are replaced with amines. Thus, 
the monomer units of LCP poly(esteramide)s have the formula 
EQU X--Ar'--Y 
where --X and Y are alike or different and are each selected from --OH, 
--NH.sub.2, --NHR, --COOH, and reactive derivatives thereof that result in 
the formation of ester and amide units during polymerization. In at least 
some of the monomer units in the above formula, and very often all of the 
monomer units, Ar' is one or more of 1,3-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene, 
2,6-naphthylene, 2,7-naphthylene, and 4,4'-biphenylene, with 
1,4-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene and 4,4'-biphenylene being preferred. Ar' 
may optionally be substituted on the aromatic ring with one or more 
moieties selected from lower alkyl groups having 1-4 carbons, an aromatic 
group, F, Cl, Br and I. Aliphatic or partially aliphatic monomer units are 
also sometimes included in the polymer. The synthesis and structure of LCP 
poly(esteramide)s are taught in several. U.S. Pat. Nos. including, for 
example, 4,339,375; 4,355,132; 4,351,917; 4,330,457; and 4,35 1,918. 
A particularly preferred LCP poly(esteramide) comprises monomer units 
derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, terephthalic acid and 
4-aminophenol, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,457, with the LCP 
poly(esteramide) derived from about 60% 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, about 
20% terephthalic acid and about 20% 4-aminophenol being most preferred. 
Another preferred LCP poly(esteramide) is derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic 
acid, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 4,4'-biphenol, terephthalic acid and 
4-aminophenol, with the LCP poly(esteramide) derived from about 60% 
4-hydroxybenzoic acid, about 3.5% 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, about 13.25% 
4,4'-biphenol, about 18.25% terephthalic acid and about 5% 4-aminophenol 
being particularly preferred. 
The LCP poly(esteramide)s utilized in the current invention generally have 
a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of at least about 5,000, and 
preferably greater than about 10,000. The particularly preferred 
poly(esteramide) comprising monomer units derived from about 60% 
6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, about 20% terephthalic acid and about 20% 
4-aminophenol typically has a molecular weight of about 20,000. LCP 
poly(esteramide)s having molecular weights in the low end of the above 
range (i.e., M.sub.w starting as low as about 5,000) may also be utilized 
in the current invention. To achieve these lower molecular weights, it may 
be necessary to include an end-capping monomer in the polymer or to 
maintain a slight stoichiometric imbalance of monomer reactants. 
Poly(arylene sulfide)s are also well known in the art. They are polymers 
comprising monomer units having the formula 
EQU --Ar"--S-- 
where Ar" is one or more disubstituted aromatic moieties. Examples of 
poly(arylene sulfide)s include polymers in which Ar" is 1,4-phenylene, 
1,3-phenylene, 4,4'-biphenylene, 2,4-tolylene, 2,5-tolylene, 
1,4-naphthylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 1-methoxy-2,5-phenylene, and the like. 
Some trisubstituted aromatic units Ar" may also be included, in which case 
the polymer is branched. Some of the aromatic units Ar" may also be 
substituted with lower alkyl groups having 1-4 carbons, phenyl, F, Cl, Br, 
I, or lower alkoxy groups having 1-4 carbons as, for example, methoxy. The 
preferred poly(arylene sulfide) is poly(phenylene sulfide), in which case 
Ar" is 1,4-phenylene. 
There is extensive literature on poly(arylene sulfide)s and poly(phenylene 
sulfide) and on methods for making them. See, for example, an article 
entitled "Poly(arylene sulfide)s" in "Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and 
Engineering", Second Edition, H. F. Mark et al., ed., John Wiley and Sons, 
New York, 1988, Vol. 11, pp. 531-557. The preferred poly(phenylene 
sulfide) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,826. It is made by the 
condensation of an alkali metal sulfide and 1,4-dichlorobenzene in a 
solvent. Poly(phenylene sulfide) as taught therein can be made in a range 
of molecular weights by adjusting the temperature, solvents, time of 
reaction and other conditions. Poly(phenylene sulfide) resins having melt 
viscosities in the range of about 200 to about 2000 poise at 310.degree. 
C. and 1200 sec.sup.-1 are particularly useful. Poly(phenylene sulfide) 
resins and compounds are available from a number of manufacturers and 
suppliers, including Hoechst Celanese Corporation under the Forton.RTM. 
trademark, Phillips Petroleum Company under the Ryton.RTM. trademark, GE 
Plastics under the Supec.RTM. trademark and Mobay Corp. under the 
Tedur.RTM.trademark. 
Other additives may also be included in the compositions of the current 
invention, such as lubricants, mold release agents, antioxidants, 
stabilizers, colorants, impact modifiers, solid fillers (including 
reinforcing fillers) and the like. These are all well known in the art. 
Examples of solid fillers/reinforcing fillers include carbon, carbon 
fibers, wollastonite, mica, talc, silicates, silica, clays, 
poly(tetrafluoroethylene), alumina, alumina fiber, glass, glass fiber, 
tungsten fiber, cotton, wool, rock wool, steel fiber, silicon carbide and 
the like. Glass fiber is a particularly preferred solid filler/reinforcing 
filler. Such glass fiber may be pre-treated with a sizing agent as, for 
example, a silane coupling agent. 
Blends of LCP polyester, LCP poly(esteramide) and poly(arylene sulfide) 
exhibit a melt viscosity that is lower than the melt viscosity of a 
corresponding blend of LCP polyester and poly(arylene sulfide), where the 
total amount of LCP compared with poly(arylene sulfide) is the same in 
both blends. In other words, the melt viscosity of a blend of LCP 
polyester and poly(arylene sulfide) is generally reduced when LCP 
poly(esteramide) is substituted for a portion of the LCP polyester, so 
that the melt viscosity of the 3-component blend that has the same 
relative amounts of total LCP and poly(arylene sulfide) as the blend of 
LCP polyester and poly(arylene sulfide) has a melt viscosity that is 
reduced by at least about 5%. The reduction of the melt viscosity of LCP 
polyester/poly(arylene sulfide) blends by addition of LCP poly(esteramide) 
is particularly surprising in view of the fact that LCP poly(esteramide)s 
generally have a higher melt viscosity than the LCP polyesters. It is 
especially surprising that the effect can be observed with even a very 
small amount of LCP poly(esteramide). Thus, in Example 1, a 20% reduction 
in melt viscosity was achieved when only 0.33% LCP poly(esteramide) was 
substituted for 0.33% LCP polyester in a blend of 33% LCP polyester and 
67% poly(phenylene sulfide). Furthermore, viscosity reductions of about 
5-15% were observed even when other additives were included in the blend, 
such as solid fillers, as for example, glass fiber. 
For the preferred embodiments, it appears that a reduction in viscosity of 
at least about 5% is achieved as long as the total LCP comprises at least 
about 10% of the polymer blend. In particularly preferred embodiments, the 
compositions comprise about 20% to about 80% LCP and about 80% to about 
20% poly(arylene sulfide), with the LCP poly(esteramide) comprising about 
0.5% to about 50% of the total LCP. The reduction in viscosity is observed 
for the filled compositions as well. Preferred compositions include about 
90 to about 10 parts by weight of the LCP polyester and poly(esteramide), 
about 10 to about 90 pans by weight of poly(arylene sulfide) and up to 
about 300 parts by weight of inorganic filler. 
The blends and compounds are made using methods well-known in the art. The 
preferred method of blending is melt blending, in which the LCP polyester, 
poly(arylene sulfide) and a viscosity-reducing amount of LCP 
poly(esteramide) are mixed in the molten phase in an extruder, as for 
example, a twin screw extruder. If an inorganic filler, such as glass, is 
also included, it is preferably added in a later mixing zone after the 
polymers are mixed to minimize crushing or fragmentation of the filler. 
The polymers are preferably dried before mixing by heating them in a dry 
atmosphere for several hours. 
The compositions taught herein are useful in the manufacture of molded pans 
by injection molding. They are particularly useful in the manufacture of 
electronic connectors. The reduction in melt viscosity that results from 
the addition of LCP poly(esteramide) is advantageous in the molding of 
intricate parts with small cavities that are difficult to fill during 
molding with polymers having higher viscosity.

The following examples provide a more detailed description of the preferred 
embodiments of the current invention. 
EXAMPLES 1-14 
A large number of blends and compounds were made utilizing the materials 
described below. The LCP polyester used in these examples (referred to as 
"LCP-ester" in the examples) is a copolymer of about 73 mole % 
4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 27 mole % 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. A typical 
sample has a molecular weight M.sub.w of about 36,000. The LCP 
poly(esteramide) (referred to as "LCP-esteramide") is a copolymer of about 
60 mole % 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 20 mole % terephthalic acid and 20 
mole % 4-aminophenol. A typical sample has a molecular weight M.sub.w of 
about 22,000. Two different molecular weights of polyphenylene sulfide 
(PPS) were utilized. Both are linear PPS resins made by the condensation 
of sodium sulfide and p-dichlorobenzene by methods well known in the art. 
The lower and higher molecular weight PPS resins are referred to as 
"Lo-PPS" and "Hi-PPS" respectively in the examples. 
The melt viscosities of each of the four polymers varied somewhat, but in 
general were approximately as follows: 
LCP-ester, 550-700 poise at 300.degree. C. and 1000 sec.sup.-1 ; 
LCP-esteramide, 1200-2200 poise at 300.degree. C. and 1000 sec.sup.-1 ; 
Lo-PPS, about 250-330 poise at 310.degree. C. and 1200 sec.sup.-1 ; and 
Hi-PPS, about 550 poise at 310.degree. C. and 1200 sec.sup.-1. 
In general, LCP-esteramide has the highest melt viscosity of the four 
polymers. Hi-PPS has a higher melt viscosity than Lo-PPS. Lo-PPS and 
LCP-ester are roughly comparable in viscosity at high shear. The melt 
viscosities of the PPS resins and LCP-esteramide are relatively 
insensitive to shear. The melt viscosity of LCP-ester is sensitive to 
shear, becoming considerably less viscous at high shear. Glass fiber was 
also included in some of the blending experiments. The glass fiber had 
been pre-treated with a silane coupling agent. 
Prior to melt blending or compounding, the polymer samples were mixed by 
tumbling in pellet or powder form in the desired ratio and then dried 
overnight at about 150.degree. C. The dried polymers were then melt 
blended in a 28 mm or 30 mm ZSK twin screw extruder at a screw speed of 
300 rpm with a barrel profile of about 290.degree.-310.degree. C. Any 
glass that was included in the compositions was added downstream from the 
blending zone. 
Viscosity measurements were carried out on a Kayeness Capillary Viscometer 
using a 0.8 inch by 0.04 inch I.D. capillary. These measurements were 
generally carried out at 300.degree. C. at shear rates varying from 100 
sec.sup.-1 to 1000 sec.sup.-1. 
Melt viscosity data are presented in Tables 1-4. Table 1 illustrates the 
data obtained in blends of LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide and the lower 
viscosity PPS (Lo-PPS). The compositions of Table 1 all contain 33% LCP, 
but with varying amounts of LCP-ester and LCP-esteramide. Table 2 
summarizes data in the form of paired comparisons in which the viscosities 
of blends of LCP-ester and Lo-PPS are compared with the viscosities of 
blends in which a portion of LCP-ester has been replaced with 
LCP-esteramide, so that the total amount of LCP remains constant in each 
experiment. Table 3 provides comparative viscosity data for compounds of 
LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide, Lo-PPS and glass fiber. Finally, Table 4 
presents data on blends of Hi-PPS and LCP; these data are also in the form 
of paired experiments in which the viscosities of blends of Hi-PPS and 
LCP-ester are compared with the viscosities of blends in which a portion 
of LCP-ester has been replaced with LCP-esteramide, so that the total 
amount of LCP remains constant in each experiment. Table 4 also includes 
data in which glass fiber is part of the composition. 
The data in Tables 1-4 generally indicate that even small amounts of 
LCP-esteramide can have a large effect on the melt viscosities. Thus, in 
Example 1, the presence of 0.33% LCP-esteramide is sufficient to reduce 
the melt viscosity of a composition using Lo-PPS by 20%. It can be seen 
that all of the blends in Table 1 that contain all three polymers have a 
lower melt viscosity than the blend of Lo-PPS with either LCP-ester or 
LCP-esteramide. All of the blends in Table 1 contain 33% LCP. 
With the exception of Examples 5 and 13, where the LCP content of the 
composition was 10% or less, and Example 9, where a small amount of 
LCP-esteramide was blended with LCP-ester and Hi-PPS, the 
viscosity-reducing effect of adding LCP-esteramide is quite general. This 
is true for both higher and lower molecular weight variants of PPS, and 
for compositions with or without glass. 
EXAMPLE 15 
The compounded product of Example 10, comprising 19% LCP-ester, 1% 
LCP-esteramide, 40% Hi-PPS and 40% glass fiber was injection molded on a 
Boy 30M molding machine to produce test bars for the measurement of 
physical properties. The comparative material of Example 10, comprising 
20% LCP-ester, 40% Hi-PPS and 40% glass fiber, but no LCP-esteramide was 
also made into test bars. The measured properties are shown in Table 5. It 
is apparent from the data in Table 5 that the presence or absence of 
LCP-esteramide does not make a significant difference in the physical 
properties. 
It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are 
illustrative only and that modification throughout may occur to one 
skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as 
limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but is to be defined only by 
the appended claims. 
TABLE 1 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Blends of LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide and Lo-PPS 
Composition-wt. %.sup.1 
Comparison.sup.2 
Example 1 
Example 2 
Example 3 
Example 4 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
LCP-ester 33.0 32.7 31.35 28.0 23.0 
LCP-esteramide 
-- 0.33 1.65 5.0 10.0 
Lo-PPS 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 
Melt Viscosity, 
457 365 377 356 368 
poise, 300.degree. C., 
1000 sec.sup.-1 
% change with 
-- -20% -18% -22% -19% 
LCP-esteramide 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
.sup.1 Blended on 28 mm ZSK twin screw extruder at melt temperature of 
300.degree. C.-310.degree. C. 
.sup.2 A blend of 33.0% LCPesteramide and 67.0% LoPPS had a melt viscosit 
of 592 poise at 300.degree. C. and 1000 sec.sup.-1 
TABLE 2 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Blends of LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide and Lo-PPS 
Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 
Composition-wt. %.sup.1 
Comparison 
Example 
Comparison 
Example 
Comparison 
Example 
Comparison 
Example 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
LCP-ester 5.0 3.35 50 48.35 70 68.35 95 93.35 
LCP-esteramide 
-- 1.65 -- 1.65 -- 1.65 -- 1.65 
Lo-PPS 95 95 50 50 30 30 5 5.0 
Melt Viscosity, 
302 308 394 344 381 309 515 463 
300.degree. C., 1000 sec.sup.-1 
% Change with 
-- .sup. --.sup.2 
-13% -- -19% -- -10% 
LCP-esteramide 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
.sup.1 Blended on 28 mm ZSK twin screw extruder at melt temperature of 
290-310.degree. C. 
.sup.2 No significant change 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
Compound of LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide, Lo-PPS and Glass 
Fiber 
Composition-wt. %.sup.1 
Comparison Example 14 
______________________________________ 
LCP-ester 20 19 
LCP-esteramide -- 1 
Lo-PPS 40 40 
Glass Fiber.sup.2 
40 40 
Melt Viscosity, 300.degree. C. 
(Poise) 
1000 sec.sup.-1 761 689 
100 sec.sup.-1 1078 981 
% Change in melt 
viscosity 
1000 sec.sup.-1 -- -9% 
100 sec.sup.-1 -- -9% 
______________________________________ 
.sup.1 Data are based on the average of two compounding experiments 
.sup.2 Sized with a silane coupling agent 
TABLE 4 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Blends of LCP-ester, LCP-esteramide and Hi-PPS 
Example 9 Example 10 
Example 11.sup.3 
Example 12 Example 13 
Compari- Compari- Compari- Compari- 
Composition-wt %.sup.1 
son Example 
son Example 
son Example 
son Example 
Comparison 
Example 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
LCP-ester 33.0 31.35 
20 19 20 19 15 14 10 9 
LCP-esteramide 
-- 1.65 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 
Hi-PPS 67.0 67.0 40 40 40 40 45 45 50 50 
Glass Fiber.sup.2 
-- -- 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 
Melt Viscosity at 
300.degree. C. 
1000 sec.sup.-1 
593 591 1059 966 1043 906 1212 1153 1337 1363 
400 sec.sup.-1 
-- -- 1574 1438 -- -- 1805 1718 1966 1953 
100 sec.sup.-1 
-- -- 2900 2500 2874 2438 3148 3025 3172 3198 
% change in melt 
viscosity 
1000 sec.sup.-1 
-- .sup. 0.sup.4 
-- -9% -- -13% -- -5% -- .sup. 0.sup.4 
400 sec.sup.-1 
-- -- -- -9% -- -- -- -5% -- 0 
100 sec.sup.-1 
-- -- -- -14% -- -15% -- -4% -- 0 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
.sup.1 Compounded on 30 mm ZSK twin screw extruder, barrel profile 
290.degree.-310.degree.; screw speed 300 rpm, except Example 10, where 
screw speed was 400 rpm 
.sup.2 Fiberglass sized with a silane coupling agent 
.sup.3 Average of 3 compounding experiments 
.sup.4 No significant change 
TABLE 5 
______________________________________ 
Comparison of Physical Properties 
Composition-wt. %.sup.1 
Control Example 
______________________________________ 
LCP-ester 20 19 
LCP-esteramide -- 1 
Hi-PPS 40 40 
Glass Fiber 40 40 
Tensile Strength, kpsi.sup.2 
25.0 26.1 
Tensile Modulus, kkpsi.sup.2 
2.47 2.48 
Elongation, %.sup.2 
1.4 1.4 
Flexural Strength, kpsi.sup.3 
36.8 36.7 
Flexural Modulus, 2.38 2.37 
kkpsi.sup.3 
Notched Izod, ft-lb/in.sup.4 
1.69 1.69 
HDT at 246 psi, .degree.C..sup.5 
262.degree. C. 
262.degree. C. 
______________________________________ 
.sup.1 Same samples as Example 10, injection molded on a Boy 30M molding 
machine 
.sup.2 ASTM D638 
.sup.3 ASTM D790 
.sup.4 ASTM D256 
.sup.5 ASTM D648