화학공학소재연구정보센터
Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.38, No.2, 322-329, 1998
Thermoforming of liquid crystalline polymer sheets
Liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) extruded sheets were further processed by the conventional thermoforming method. The available processing temperature range was defined through the structural, thermal, and elevated temperature mechanical characterization of the extruded sheet. This temperature range was found for LCP to be quite narrow, in the proximity of the crystal-mesophase transition. The structural changes imposed on the LCP sheet during forming and its thermal stability were investigated using wide angle X-ray diffraction, mainly for the determination of the chain orientation distribution, DSC, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Thermoforming onto a symmetrical male mold was found to enhance the orientation in the extrusion machine direction and even change the preferred orientation in the extrusion transverse direction to orientation along the thermoforming direction. Annealing at the thermoforming temperature range results in a more ordered and thermally stable structure accompanied by just a slight orientation loss.