Structure hierarchy in liquid crystalline polymers

Abstract

Structure models have been developed for the liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), showing the existence of fibrillar hierarchies for both the lyotropic aramids and the thermotropic aromatic copolyesters. Hierarchies of structure have also been observed for biological materials. The nature of the smallest nanostructure that aggregates, typically microfibrils, and their interaction, are important in understanding the behavior of the material. This paper discusses the first application of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to image the microfibrils in LCPs, in the 1-10 nm size range, resulting in a new LCP structural model.The structure model proposed earlier, was based on the study of Vectra® thermotropic LCP moldings and extrudates, and Vectran® and Kevlar® fibers. The model resulted from characterization by light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Recent studies of similar fibers by STM and low voltage FESEM has provided additional insights. Details of single microfibrils and their aggregation into fibrils and macrofibrils was shown.