Compositions of melt-processable polymers having improved processability
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorsFrederic N. Cogswell, Brian P. Griffin, John B. Rose
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Abstract
A melt-processable composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterized in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt overlaps the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed. The melt viscosity of such compositions may be very much less than that of the melt-processable polymer in the absence of the anisotropic melt-forming polymer particularly at high shear rates, corresponding to those encountered during moulding and extrusion operations.
Claims9
A melt-processable polymer composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterised in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt and the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed overlap, with the proviso that the other melt-processable polymer may not become melt processable until blended with the anisotropic-melt-forming polymer, the quantity of the polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt being sufficient to reduce the melt viscosity of the composition in comparison with the melt viscosity in the absence of the anisotropic-melt-forming polymer, by at least 10%, when measured at a shear rate of 1000 sec.sup.-1 at a given processing temperature in the processing temperature range of the melt-processable polymer.
A molten polymer composition characterised in that there coexist in the melt at least two polymers in melt form at least one of which is present as an anisotropic melt.
A method of improving the processability of a melt-processable polymer comprising forming a blend of the melt processable polymer with a second polymer characterised in that the melt of the second polymer is an anisotropic melt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.