# US 7,175,779 B1 · Thermotropic main-chain liquid crystalline polymers and method of increasing the melt processibility of polyester-based liquid crystalline polymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,175,779 B1 - Document ID: US7175779B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/979,673 - Filed: 2000-05-03 - Granted: 2007-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 1999-05-03 - Assignees: Optatech Corporation - Inventors: Hans Kricheldorf; Andreas Gerken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7175779B1 ## CPC - C09K 19/3809: {Polyesters; Polyester derivatives, e.g. polyamides} - C08G 63/60: derived from the reaction of a mixture of hydroxy carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS ## Abstract A thermotropic main-chain liquid crystalline homo- or copolymer forming a liquid crystalline phase and containing an aromatic monomer with functional groups in ortho- or meta-position. The polymer exhibits both isotropic and anisotropic properties. The present invention also provides a method for the preparation of the present polymers as well as a method of increasing the melt-processibility of polyester-based liquid crystalline polymers comprising the step of incorporating into the polymers 1 to 30 mol-% of, e.g., a ortho-substituted monomer with hydroxyl and/or carboxylic groups. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermotropic main-chain liquid crystalline homo- or copolymer forming a liquid crystalline phase, having therein an aromatic monomer with at least one functional group in ortho-position, said polymer is produced by the transesterification of a polyester selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(butylene naphthalate), poly(trimethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene naphthalate), poly(cyclohexane dimethanolterephthalate) and/or poly(cyclohexane dimethanolnaphthalate) and having entanglements, increased melt strength and isotropic and anisotropic properties, said aromatic monomer being selected from the group consisting of at least one of acetylsalicylic acid, diacetylated catechol, or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, wherein the aromatic monomer comprises a naphthalene or biphenyl structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, wherein the amount of the ortho-substituted monomer is 0.1 to 30 mol % of the polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, further comprising at least one of 4-acetoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxy-6-naphthoic acid, N-(4′-carboxyphenyl)-trimellitic acid imide, terephthalic acid, hydroquinone and/or substituted hydroquinone, biphenyldiol, paraminophenol and/or various dihydroxy naphtalenes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The polymer of claim 4, wherein the substituted hydroquinone is selected from the group consisting of methylhydroquinone, tert.-butylhydroquinone and/or phenylhydroquinone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, wherein the polymer is amorphous. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, wherein the polymer is processible by extrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, wherein a carboxylic acid is present during a polycondensation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The polymer of claim 1, containing mesophases and wherein each of the mesophases is of a size less than the a wavelength of visible light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A thermoplastic polymer blend comprising an LCP according to claim 1, and wherein the LCP is compatible with other thermoplastic blending components of the blend. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermoplastic polymer blend of claim 10, wherein the LCP and the other thermoplastic blending components have been compatibilized. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermoplastic polymer blend according to claim 11, wherein the compatibilizer is a thermoplastic polymer containing functional groups and/or block segments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A processed thermoplastic product, comprising the LCP of claim 1 and/or a polymer blend comprising the LCP of claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic product of claim 13, wherein said product has been processed by at least one of blown-film extrusion, cast-film extrusion, sheet extrusion, pipe extrusion, cable extrusion, extrusion coating, extrusion blow-moulding, injection blow-moulding, injection moulding, all in single-layer or multi-layer constructions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic product of claim 13, comprising an extruded transparent film. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic product of claim 13, comprising an extruded transparent LCP-film exhibiting elastic properties at <200° C. ### Claim 17 A method of increasing the melt-processibility of a polyester-based liquid crystalline polymer comprising: incorporating into the polymer an aromatic monomer [polymer] having at least one functional group in ortho-position in an amount of 0.1 to 30 mol-%, wherein said polymer is produced by the transesterification of a polyester selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(butylene naphthalate), poly(trimethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene naphthalate), poly(cyclohexane dimethanolterephthalate) and/or poly(cyclohexane dimethanolnaphthalate). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the least one functional group in ortho-position is a hydroxyl and/or a carboxylic group or a derivative thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the aromatic monomer has the general formula o-X1—Ar—X2 (IV) wherein Ar is an aromatic ring structure and X1 and X2 represent independently functional groups capable of reacting with hydroxy, carboxy or amino groups to form ester, amide, imide, ether or carbonate bonds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the aromatic monomer is acetylsalicylic acid or diacetylated catechol or a derivative thereof.