Richard W. Lusignea

Commercial Uses of Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs) have outstanding strength, temperature resistance, dimensional stability, and gas barrier properties. LCPs owe their properties to the long rod-like molecules which characterize this class of polymers. Because they are fundamentally different than other polymers, new processing technology is needed in order to use LCPs in costeffective products. Biaxial shear flow, elongational strain, and thermal treatment have been used to control and improve properties. Combinations of LCPs with thermoplastics provide economic benefits in terms of the performance-to-cost ratio, and again new processing enables the full properties of LCPs to be used in blends. Applications for polymeric films, sheet, tubes and molded articles are driving materials and processing commercialization for LCPs. Key market areas are high barrier containers, electronic substrates and lightweight structures.