Thermotropic liquid crystal polymers : thin-film polymerization, characterization, blends, and applications (2001)

Note: All chapters end with a section of References. Preface INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS History of development of liquid crystalline materials Classification and structure of liquid crystalline materials: Classification and structure of LCs, Classification and structure of LCPs Liquid crystal textures: Textures of Neumatic LCs, Texture of smectic LCs, Texture of cholesteric LCs Theories of liquid crystal state: Theories of nematic LCs, Theories of LCPs Main-chain liquid crystalline polymers: Research focus of thermotropic main-chain LCPs, Chemical structures of main-chain LCPs, Synthesis of main-chain LCPs, End-use properties and applications of main-chain LCPs INVESTIGATION AND SYNTHESIS OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS BY THIN FILM POLYMERIZATION Introduction Experimental detail of thin film polymerization Morphological changes during thin film polymerization of liquid crystalline polymers: Generation of the liquid crystal phase, Annihilation of disclinations Formation of banded texture Investigation of the effects of reaction conditions on the synthesis of liquid crystalline polymers: Effects of reaction temperature on the thin film polymerization, Effects of catalyst on the thin film polymerization Investigation of the formation of liquid crystallinity: Effects of monomer structures on liquid crystallinity, Effects of reaction temperatures on the liquid crystallinity Investigation of the electric response of liquid crystalline polymer during polymerization: Introduction of the electric field effects on liquid crystalline materials, Polymerization of liquid crystalline polymer under electric field, Electric response of the polymerization system of liquid crystal polymer CRYSTALLIZATION OF MAIN CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Introduction Polymer Crystallization: Theory : Isothermal crystallization, Non-isothermal crystallization, Crystallinity determination Main chain LCP crystallization: Liquid crystalline polyimides, Poly(amide-imide), Crystallization of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters THE THERMAL STABILITY AND DEGRADATION BEHAVIOR OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Introduction Thermal Stability and Degradation Mechanisms: Commercial TLCPs, Other TLCPs Thermal Degradation Kinetics: Background of Degradation Kinetic Modeling, Analysis Results X-RAY SCATTERING FROM LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Introduction Numerical simulation of x-ray diffraction patterns of nematic systems: A packing model for the nematic systems-parallel packed hard rods, X-Ray scattering from a dilute system of parallel packed hard rods, Interference among the rods Numerical simulation of X-Ray Diffraction patterns of smectic systems Monodomain and polydomain structures X-Ray scattering from unoriented liquid crystalline polymers-powder diffraction method X-Ray scattering from oriented liquid crystalline polymers-fiber scattering Summary Appendix SURFACE TENSION INVESTIGATIONS OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER Introduction Estimation of Surface Tension of a Solid: Contact angle and the Young's equation, Zisman's method, Neumann's method, Fowkes' method, Owens, Wendt, and Kaeblle's method, Wu's method, Lifshitz method, Theoretical estimation from group contribution hypothesis Surface tension of commercial thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers: Polymer materials, Spin-coating LCP films, Contact angle measurement, Results and discussions, Theoretical estimation by group contributions method Surface tension evolution during thin film polymerization: Background, Experiments, Results and discussion LCP BLENDS Introduction In-situ composites: Fibrillation, Compatibilization, Mechanical performance of in-situ composites In-situ hybrid composites: Concept and model of in-situ hybrid composites, Hybrid effect in in-situ hybrid composites RHEOLOGY AND PROCESSING OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Introduction Molecular dimension of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers Dynamics of liquid crystalline polymers Rheology of thermotropic liquid Crystalline polymers: Three region flow, Dynamic melt viscosity, Effects of molecular weight, Effects of temperature, Effects of glass fibers, Negative normal stress difference, Elongational viscosity, Die swell Processing of Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymers: Injection molding, Extrusion and compounding, Fiber spinning LIQUID CRYSTAL ELASTOMERS, NETWORKS, AND GELS Introduction Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs): Synthesis and phase behavior, Physics properties, LC thermal-plastic elastomers Liquid single crystal elastomers, Anisotropic networks, and gels: Concept for LSCE, Synthesis and characterization of LSCE, anisotropic networks and gels, Coupling effect between mesogen and polymer network, Memory effect of LC networks, Specific Anisotropic network systems THERMOSETTING LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS Introduction Synthesis and phase behavior of thermosetting LC polymers: Epoxy rigid and semi-rigid rod network, Cyanate ester rigid rod network, Bismaleimide rigid network, Diacrylate semi-rigid rod network, Bisacetylene rigid rod network, Rigid and semi-rigid network based on hybrid organic-inorganic designs Reaction kinetics of LC-thermosets Physical properties and potential application LCP EXTRUSION AND APPLICATIONS Introduction LCP background: Conventional extrusion of LCP, Controlled orientation of LCP film Counter-rotating dies for extrusion: Orientation in LCP film, Calculation of orientation angles, Multilayer coextrusion Tube extrusion and applications: Applications and properties of LCP tube, Processing and performance of LCP tubing, Medical applications of LCP tubing, Other applications of LCP tube Film extrusion and applications: The LCP blown film process, LCP film in printed circuit boards, LCP film in high barrier packaging applications Blow molding in LCPs and applications LCP-thermoplastic blends and alloys, processing and applications: Tensile properties of LCP blends, Processing LCP blends and alloys Conclusions Index 195 figures 60 tables MICROGRAPHS, PHOTOGRAPHS, DIAGRAMS, FLOWCHARTS AND OTHER SCHEMATICS - a total of 195 -- illustrate materials, processes and applications. Here is a small sampling of these graphics. o Micrographs (series of 20) showing morphologies of 73/27 ABA/ANA polymerization reaction system at different reaction times o Schematics of two-step polymerization of polyimide o Repeating unit structures of commercial LCPs o Schematic representation of different types of LC elastomers (LCE) from side chain, main chaintype, and combined main chain/side group type...o Schematic of mechanical behavior of LC elastomers o Chemical route to a macroscopically oriented LC network o Scanning electron micrograph of a gel obtained after the extraction of the non-reactive LC o Rigid rod epoxy thermoset monomers o Non-equilibrium phase diagram describing the behavior of liquid crystalline thermosets o Effect of rotation rate on orientation (film) o Schematic representation of coextruded LCP-thermoplastic multiplayer TABLES Sixty tables provide extensive data useful in R&D. Here is a small sampling of this material. o The effect of reaction temperature on the transition time of morphological changes o Reference data for reaction rate constants obtained from uncatalyzed bulk polymerization reactions o Some liquid crystalline polyimides (structures) o The morphology in polyblends containing LCPs reported in the literature o Various third components acting as compatibilizers and the compatibilized in situ composites o The mechanical properties of in situ composites (including processing method) o Properties of thermotropic LCP films