Hierarchical structure of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer formed in blends jointly by dynamic and thermodynamic driving forces

The hierarchical structure of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP), especially microfibrils with an average diameter of 30 nm has been obtained in polyamide 6 (PA6)/TLCP/glass bead (GB) ternary blends by capillary flows. Thermodynamically the different interfacial tensions between PA6 and GB, and between TLCP and GB, make the glass beads migrate to the vicinity of the TLCP melt droplets. Then the strong extensional flow field formed by the micro-rollers of these glass beads exerts strong extensional action on TLCP coils so that results in the formation of TLCP microfibrils, which are usually generated with neat TLCP melt only. The hierarchical structure of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) in PA6/TLCP/GB ternary blends can enhance mechanical performance of such blends.