Dilute solutions of lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers, methods of making same and compositions prepared from same
AssigneeFoster-Miller, Inc.
InventorsDavid Ofer, Bindu Nair, John Larouco, William Stevenson, Leslie Rubin
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Abstract
The invention features dilute solutions of rigid rod or extended rod lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers prepared from high concentration polymerization mixtures. The invention also features methods of preparing such dilute solutions which utilize high mechanical shear to induce mix the high concentration solution with a diluent. The invention further provides articles of manufacture, including films and fibers, having a porous microstructure which are prepared from the dilute homogeneous solutions of the invention.
Claims45
A solution formed by dilution comprising at least one rigid rod or extended rod lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer and at least one liquid where the solution concentration is greater than about 1.5 percent by weight and less than the as-polymerized concentration of the lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer.
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A homogeneous solution comprising polyphosphoric acid and at least one lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer selected from polybenzoxazole (PBO), polybenzothiazoles (PBZT), and polybenzimidizoles (PBI) wherein the solution comprises between 1.5 weight percent and less than the as-polymerized weight percent of the lytotropic liquid crystalline polymer.
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A method of preparing a solution of a lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer, wherein the solution comprises between about 1.5 and less than the as-polymerized concentration of the lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an as-polymerized dope solution of the lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer in at least one polymerization solvent;
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- introducing a diluent into the as-polymerized dope solution under conditions conducive to formation of a homogeneous lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer solution having between about 1.5 and less than the as-polymerized weight percent liquid crystalline polymer.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.