Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

Synthesis and Characterization of Segmented Copolymers of a Methylated Polyamide and a Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyester

Robert Weiss, The University of Akron

Abstract

A block copolymer consisting of liquid crystalline polyester segments and methylated polyamide segments has been synthesized. Solution polycondensation of acid chloride end-capped poly(terephthaloyl phenylhydroquinone) (LCP portion) with an amine terminated poly(N,N'-dimethylethylene sebacamide) was utilized to prepare the block copolymer. Characterization by differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, optical microscopy and elemental analysis has been performed to verify the existence of the block copolymer that may have potential as a molecular composite material or self-reinforcing thermoplastic.