Method for processing rigid-chain polymers into structural materials
AssigneeUniversity of Dayton
InventorsChyi-Shan Wang, Jar-Wha Lee
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Abstract
A method for processing thermally intractable rigid-chain polymers into shaped structural articles is provided. The method includes dissolving a rigid-chain polymer in sulfuric acid at a concentration and temperature sufficient to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which is then formed into a shaped article and cooled to a solid. The solution undergoes a phase transformation upon cooling from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates. The method allows rigid-chain polymers to be formed into fibers, bulk structural components, fiber reinforced composites and other structural materials without undergoing significant shrinkage or deformation.
Claims17
A method of forming a shaped article from a rigid chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer;
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of about 20% and at a temperature of from about 180° C. to 200° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation;
- and
- forming said solution into a shaped article and cooling said article to form a solid;
- wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
A method of forming a shaped article from a rigid-chain polymer comprising:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer;
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of from about 20% to about 40% by weight and at a temperature of from about 180° C. to 200° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation;
- and
- forming said solution into a shaped article and cooling said article to form a solid, wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
A method of forming a fiber composite from a rigid-chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer and fibers,
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of about 20% and at a temperature of about 180 to 200° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation and combining said fibers in said solution;
- and
- forming said solution into a composite and cooling said composite to form a solid, wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
A method of forming a fiber composite from a rigid-chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer and fibers;
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of from about 20% to about 40% by weight and at a temperature of about 180 to 200° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation and combining said fibers in said solution;
- and
- forming said solution into a composite and cooling said composite to form a solid, wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
A method of forming a shaped article from a rigid-chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer;
- dissolving said polymer in a strong acid at a polymer concentration of about 20% and at a temperature of from about 180° C. to 200° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation;
- forming said solution into a shaped article and cooling said article to form a solid;
- wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates;
- and
- removing solvent from said solid;
- wherein said shaped article undergoes little or no shrinkage upon removal of said solvent.
A method of forming a shaped article from a rigid-chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer;
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of about 7% to about 10% and a temperature of about 100° C. to 127° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation;
- and
- forming said solution into a shaped article and cooling said article to form a solid;
- wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
A method of forming a shaped article from a rigid-chain polymer comprising the steps of:
- providing a rigid-chain polymer;
- dissolving said polymer in sulfuric acid at a polymer concentration of about 11% to about 19% and a temperature of about 137° C. to 176° C. to form a nematic liquid crystalline solution which will undergo a phase transformation;
- and
- forming said solution into a shaped article and cooling said article to form a solid;
- wherein, upon cooling, said solution undergoes a phase transformation from a liquid crystalline phase to a solid phase containing crystal solvates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.