A STUDY ON BLENDS OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE COPOLYESTERS WITH POLYCARBONATE .1. COMPATIBILITY BY TRANSESTERIFICATION

Abstract

Blends of poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) (PC) and synthesized liquid crystalline poly(oxybenzoate-co-ethylene terephthalate 40/60) (P46) were prepared through melt-mixing in a Brabender mixer. The miscibility of the blends at different compositions and blending time was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The corresponding morphology of the blends was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. It was found that for blends containing more than 20% P46 and mixed at 250 degrees C or above the transesterification between PC and P46 took place. This transesterification was confirmed at a blend containing 40% P46 by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The transesterification happened first between PC and the ester in the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) block and then between PC and the ester in the polyoxybenzoate (POB) block. At 260 degrees C and after 60 min' blending, the blend containing 30% P46 became an almost compatible system for appearing of a single glass transition temperature. This is also verified by the disappearing of P46 droplets in the PC matrix in the micrographs' observation. After 60 min' of blending, the compatibility of the system can be greatly improved even for the blend containing 40% P46 mixed at 260 degrees C by the micrograph's observation. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.