SUBMITTED BY

PRADNYA C RANE (FINAL YR. B.TECH,POLYMER AND SURFACE ENGINEERING ROLL.NO. 08)

DATE

15-10-2010

GUIDE

DR.V. V. SHERTUKADE

INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION

2. LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER 3. TYPES OF LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER Nematic Cholesteric Smectic 4. CLASSIFICATION OF LCP Thermotropic Lyotropic Main chain Side chain 5. PROPERTIES Rheological Processing and mechanical Thermal Other properties 6. SYNTHESIS MC rigid rod Thermotropic rigid rod Polyester/copolyester Combined LCP 7. APPLICATIONS Fibers Films Plastics and resins Optical storage element Medical application Switchable windows Packaging Paints Powder coating Spray coating Miscellaneous applications 8. CONCLUSION 9. REFERENCES

1. INTRODUCTION:[1,2] Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) are the unique class of materials exhibiting high performance properties close to the theoretical values. The uniqueness of these polymers came due to the uncommon anisotropic property shown by these materials in the melt conditions. They show this anisotropic nature in a particular temperature range. This nature lies in between the melting temperature and isotropic temperature. At this interval they flow like liquid but still posses some properties that of crystalline solids. This phase is called as liquid crystalline phase or mesophase (meso means middle). Due to this nature they are called as liquid crystalline polymers. The applications of these materials cover varieties of fields like molding, paints, films, packaging, optical data storage element, medical tubings and many more. The important properties of LCPs are high mechanical properties, good chemical and environmental resistance, excellent magnetic and electro-optic properties and low melting viscosities etc.

2. LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER:[1]

Material exists in three physical states: Solid, liquid and vapor (or gas). Solids are of two types, crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline solids have regular arrangement of molecules over a large distance with respect to molecular dimensions i.e. nothing but the long range order. When crystalline solids are heated, they transform into isotropic liquid at their melting temperatures and on cooling get converted into crystalline solids. There are certain materials which do not pass from crystalline solids to isotropic liquid and vice-a-versa but adopt an intermediate phase where they flow like a liquid but still possess an anisotropic physical property similar to crystalline solids. This type of phase is termed as Liquid Crystal Phase (LC phase or mesophase) and the materials are called mesomorphs (or liquid crystalline or mesomorphic substances). The liquid crystalline state or mesophase is an intermediate state between the fully anisotropic crystals and the isotropic liquid. So the liquid crystals are partially ordered phase exhibiting some mobility of the liquid state. LC molecules are organic in nature and many of them are elongated in shape. Polymers that show such phenomena are called as Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs). LCPs are having high impact strength, low melt viscosity and low density along with good mechanical properties. LCPs provide efficient strength to weight and strength to Cost ratios. Commercial LCPs are copolymers composed of molecules with rigid and flexible monomeric units. The rigid part or mesogenic monomer imparts high temperature resistance and mechanical properties, while the flexible monomer contributes processability. Due to such outstanding properties, LCPs possess wide range of applications in all the fields right from commodity to high performance specialty polymers.

3. Types of LC Phases [1,2]

There are three types of liquid crystal phases 3.1. Nematic LC Phase In nematic phase the molecules are arranged parallel or nearly parallel to each other but they display no layer flow. The molecules are able to move past each other in the direction of their longitudinal axes but they do not separate into layers e. g. 1) n-(p-azoxyanisole) (PAA)

2) n-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline (MBBA)

Above mentioned both compounds have rod like structures. This phase is derived from different structured molecules as a) Rod like molecules, b) Lathe, c) Disc shaped, d) Comb like structured LCPs and e) Lyotropic nematic phase of a stiffer polymer in solution. 3.2 Cholesteric LC Phase It is equivalent to nematic, which has been twisted periodically about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the director (i.e. twist type and distortion of nematic). in these the molecules are arranged in layers. The layers are parallel and the direction of long axis of molecules in a chosen layer is slightly displaced from the corresponding direction in the adjacent layers. However, the twist in a cholesteric arises spontaneously when the mesogenic molecules have chiral nature. Chirality(*) is associated with the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom, so that left and right hand version of a molecule cannot be commuted by simple reorientation, e.g.,

3.3 Smectic LC Phase Many soap and detergent molecules exhibit lyotropic smectic phase in solution. In these, the molecules are arranged side-by-side, parallel to one another and in series of layers, with their long axes approximately normal to the plane of the layers. (Or this possesses a pronounced layering tendency.) The structure drawn below represents the example of smectic type.

M1= Side chain or mesogenic small structure.

4. Classification of LCPs [2]

LCPs are classified based on their synthesis routes, their molecular attachments as well as their thermodynamic behavior. LCPs can be broadly classified based on their thermodynamic behavior as, 4.1. Lyotropic 4.2.Thermotropic 4.1. Lyotropic LCPs (LLCPs) The liquid crystalline system formed when certain LCPs are treated with controlled amount of solvents, are known as lyotropic LCPs. Lyotropic systems are particularly significant in LCPs, as the addition of the solvents is an important means of reducing crystalline melting point to a measurable level. The example of lyotropic LCPs is as follows,

4.2. Thermotropic LCPs (TLCPs) The term thermotropic describe substances, which show liquid crystallinity in a particular temperature range, and without need for the addition of solvent. At present only few materials are commercially available among TLCPs. Various types of TLCPs exhibit different physical properties depending on their chemical structure with respect to low molar mass liquid crystals. LC state always occurs if the molecules possess an approximately anisotropic form (this form

arises from rod disc shaped molecules).Well-known example of TLCPs is sulphonated polyester. e.g. Sulphonated LC polyester Depending on the location of the mesogenic group, LCPs can be classified as, 4.3. Main-Chain LCPS (MC-LCPs) These are formed when the mesogens are in the main chain (backbone) of the polymer. The high melting points and the high crystallinity of MC-LCPs, together with the readily synthetic accessibility of these polymer types, open up a wide range of possible applications as new materials with excellent properties. Of the lyotropic MC-LCPs, the most notable are the polyamides, of which KEVLAR is the best- known example. It is produced by polycondensation reaction of terephthalic acid and 1,4 diaminobenzene.

4.4. Side-Chain LCPs (SC-LCPs) The idea behind SC-LCPs is the graffing of mesogenic side groups onto a suitable flexible polymer molecule. In practice, the connection of mesogenic group by direct attachment to a common backbone appears to prevent the formation of mesophase; it also greatly increases the glass transition temperature of the polymer and prevents its crystallization. One of the examples of SC-LCPs is Siloxane.

On the basis of chemical structure and physical properties MC-LCPs and SC-LCPs differ considerably and hence show considerable differences in their possible applications. MC-LCPs can be used as a high performance materials but their use in the field of display technology is not possible, whilst SC-LCPs show potential as a new material for use in display technology, optical and data storage applications. [1]

5. Properties of LCPs [2]

5.1 Rheological properties The most important features, from an industrial point of view, of the rheological behavior of LCPs are as follows,

a) Low values of the die swell This is a phenomenon that is correlated with the presence of elastic effects in the melt; increasing the values of the normal stresses results in increasing in the die swell. LCPs show low die swell values, which are in some cases lower than unity. b) Low viscosity and presence of yield stress in the LC state- The viscosity of LCPs in LC state is very low i.e. lower than that exhibited by other polycondensation polymers. This feature can be attributed to the change of conformation from isotropic to anisotropic phase. The macromolecules can be aligned easily in the flow direction and the viscosity is dramatically reduced. The low viscosity implies not only good processability but also easy orientation of the macromolecules. The following Figure 2.3 shows rheological behavior of LCP and flexible conventional polymer. In the three-region flow curve the flexible polymer shows a Newtonian viscosity at very low shear rates. In this zone, the flow region of LCP sample displays rapid upturn. At high shear rates, the flow curves of both polymers show the shear thinning region, but the decrease in the viscosity of LCP sample is more dramatic. Flexible polymers do not show the upturn in the 1st region, which is observed on the contrary for filled or crosslinking polymers. This upturn shows the presence of the yield stress (i.e. the stress to be overcome to impose a flow to the system). c) Influence of thermal history on rheological properties- It was observed that the viscosity measured after preheating the polymer at temperatures higher than the test temperature, when the latter is lower than melting temperature Tm, is significantly lower than that measured after heating the sample from room to test temperature. The low rotational mobility of the rigid rods in a nematic state can be considered responsible for the stability of the undercooled nematic state[1].

Figure 2.3: Three-region flow curve

5.2 Processing and mechanical properties The low viscosity of nematic phase and its rapid decrease at high shear rates make Processing of these polymers very easy. Because of low viscosity and the long relaxation times (which are measure of the stability of the molecular orientation), the LCP easily undergo flow-induced orientation. The modulus of LCP fiber reaches very high values for modest draw ratios and rises only slightly on further increasing the latter. The highest modulus obtained for the LCP fiber is not too far from the theoretical values. The elastic modulus is dependent on the structure of the LCPs and it increases proportionally to the degree of aromaticity (aromaticity-it is the ratio of the number of sp2 hybridized carbon to the total number of atoms in the repeat unit.). Thus the mechanical properties of LCPs are strongly dependent on the processing conditions and on the type of flow involved in the processing operations.

5.3 Other Properties Thermal resistance- Depending on their structure LCPs show Heat Distortion Temperature (HDT) values from 120C (semi-rigid LCPs) to 250C (Vectra) to 350C (Xydar). Outstanding dimensional stability- LCPs have dimensional stability superior to many other high performance engineering plastics, thermosets and ceramics. The very low mold shrinkage and their low coefficient of thermal expansion, which are close to that of glass and metal alloy, respectively, are exploited in precision molding of components and the fabrication of contact LCP-glass, LCP-metal. Moreover, low moisture absorption does not produce perceptible change in dimensions. Chemical resistance- LCPs are practically unaffected by most solvents, acids and bases even at elevated temperatures and no appreciable change in the mechanical properties, weight, and dimension is evident. In particular, hydrolytic stability is good and LCP properties are unaffected by 250hr of water exposure at 120C. Low permeability- Barrier properties exceeding that of other melt processible polymeric barrier materials are exhibited by LCPs. Low flammability- Unfilled LCPs are flame retardant and have been rated V-0 (immediately self-extinguishing) Excellent electrical properties- Dielectric constant, dielectric strength, volume resistivity and arc resistant of LCPs match or exceed those of other highly heat- resistant polymers in a wide range of temperature and frequencies. [1] 6. Synthesis of LCPs Synthesis route of LCPs depends on the type of a given polymer. Generally main-chain polymer liquid crystals are synthesized using conventional methods of condensation polymerization. While side-chain LCPs can be synthesized by radical polymerization of vinyl derivatives and polyaddition reaction as done for polysiloxane based LCPs. 6.1 Main chain rigid rod LCPs Lyotropic rigid rod LCPs can be classified roughly into three types, viz polyamides, heteroaromatic polymers and polymers having other structures. Widely used poly( 1,4 phynelene terepthalamide),PPTA(Kevlar and Arenka fibers), is usually synthesized by solution condensation polymerization as follows;

PPTA can also be synthesized by one pot synthesis from phenylene diamine and terepthalic acid in the presence of an activator such as aromatic phosphines and phosphates, SOCl2 etc.

PPTA can be then spun directly to fibers from aprotic solvent solutions or separated by precipitation with water and spun into fibers by dissolving in anhydrous sulphuric acid. Heteroaromatic polymers comprise of three most frequently mentioned polymers as polybenzimidazoles(PBI), polybenzoxazole(PBO) and polybenzothiazoles(PBT) Starting materials are terepthalic acid and hydrochiorides of tetrasubstjtuted benzenes containing two SH or two NH2 groups. The Polycondensation is carried out in polyphosphoric acid with a stepwise increase of temperature from room temperature to 200C. [1] 6.2 Thermotropic rigid-rod LCPs Most of the known thermotropic LCPs belong to the family of polyesters, although a few examples of copolyesteramides, polyazomethines, polyketones, etc., have been also described. One obvious reason for this is that polyesters may be synthesized through relatively simple polycondensation techniques. More ever, with respect to polyamides of comparable structure, polyesters display lower melting points due to the absence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. However the sole substitution of the amide for the ester bond cannot grant the necessary lowering of Tm.[1]

7. Applications of LCPs
7.1 Fibers [1] a) Aramide fibers Kevlar 29 aramide fiber with ratio of tenacity to initial modulus (T/Mi) of 1.9/43 N/ tex (22/490g/den) is used mainly for rubber reinforcement in tires and belts, for ropes and cables (e.g. for anchoring offshore oil rigs), for pressure wound vessel (e.g. rocket engine cases), and for protective clothing (bullet resistance vests). Kevlar 49 aramide fiber (T/Mi=1 .9/86 N/ Tex or 22/974 g/den) Used alone or with glass and fibers in various composite applications, like aircraft panels, marine applications, sporting goods. In such applications composites reinforced with Kevlar-aramide fiber combine high tenacity and modulus with low density and resistance to crack propagation (e.g. hail/rivet holes), fatigue and impact damage. In asbestos replacement: - small amount (<5%) of short fibers or fibrid reinforces an lnorganic/organic matrix for friction materials such as brake linings and dry clutches. It increases wear and fade resistance and is nontoxic. b) Poly(p-phenylenebenzobisthiozole)(PBT) fibers The tensile properties of the treated fibers exceed those of C-fibers but the compressive strength is lower. c) Aramide polyester resin

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They are highly oriented and maintain and increase the orientation during heat and further polyrmerization. They are low cost fibers. d) Fibers from MC-LCPs with spacers The use of flexible chains in MC-LCP fibers lowers tenacity (T) and modulus (Mi) values. A definite odd-even effect can be seen. With increase in n, tenacity and modulus decrease. e) Rigid-Rod Polymeric Fibers [23] Properties of polybenzoxazole (PBO) fiber have been compared with the properties of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET), thermotropic polyster (Vectran) ,extended chain polyethylene (Spectra) ,p-aramid (kevlar), m-aramid (Nomex) ,aramid copolymer (Technora), polyimide(PBI) steel, and the experimental high compressive strength rigid rod polymeric fiber. PBO is currently the highest modulus, highest tensile strength, and the most thermally stable commercial polymeric fibers. However ,PBO has low axial compressive strength and poly resistance to ultraviolet and visible radiation. The fiber all losses tensile strength in hot and humid environment. In the coming decades, further improvements in tensile strength (10-20 GPa range), compressive strength, and radiation resistance are expected in polymeric fibers.

APPLICATIONS PBO fibers are used for the fire fighters clothing, heat resistant clothing, and as felt in industry, high temperature cut resistant gloves, gloves for high voltage electrical work, body armor,sail cloth,and aircraft engine fragment barrier.PBO also finds application in composites where compressive strength is not requirement. Worlds strongest ropes have been made from PBO. PBO is finding increasing applications in space exploration. Prototype of Mars exploration balloon tested in 2002 utilized PBO tendons. The concept of ballute(with features of balloon and parachute) currently under investigation is also expected to utilize fibers such as PBO for high strength, stiffness, and temperature resistance, coupled with low density. Because of its high strength and stiffness, PBO fiber is used as reinforcement for producing high magnetic field at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. On the other hand, UHMW-PE and carbon nanotubes have much longer length. Tensile strength of ultrahigh molecular weight PE is supposed to be limited due to its low melting temperature. PBO, only 200 nm length, exhibits highest tensile strength among polymeric fibers. Addition of high purity single wall carbon nanotubes without sonication has resulted in 60% increase in PBO tensile strength in the laboratory. In the coming decades, we can hope to see a PBO or PBO/carbon nanotube fiber with tensile strength and modulus values approaching and ultimately exceeding 10 and 400 GPa, respectively. Because of hydrozen bonding, kelvar has higher compressive strength than PBO , and an experimental hydrozen bondable rigid-rod polymer methyl pendant PBI has higher compressive strength than kelvar. Use of carbon nanotube in polymers has also resulted in improved compressive strength.

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7.2 Films [2] Films produced from poly (p-phenylene terepthalamide) by wet spinning with biaxial stretching or by dry-jet spinning with draw down usually have unsatisfactory properties even after heat treatment. Thermotropic melt polymers give films with superior properties in the machine direction. Values of T/Mi can be higher than that for Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. More balanced properties are afforded by two-way stretching and cross lamination of films and sheets. Heat treatment is effective but by-product evolution can cause variation in thickness and surface imperfections. Rotational compression molding techniques produce thin, circumferentially oriented film with an angular orientational component in the thickness direction. These films are useful in information industry and as a coating for optical fibers, where their toughness and low linear coefficient of thermal expansion are important properties. 7.3 Plastics and resins Aramid fibers have been used as reinforced materials in composites. Recently these composites have been found, due to their weight, a wide range of applications for air and space technology. Due to their properties like low melt viscosity and low melting enthalpies of wholly aromatic polymers, they are ideal materials for use in injection molding process. The low viscosity of the melt remains essentially unchanged and therefore complex and detailed structures can be realized in the injection molding The small melting enthalpy enables relatively rapid production cycle Compared to the moldings from non-LCPs, which are produced, these polymers show interesting properties for the technical applications. These include a very small thermal expansion coefficient that can be achieved by varying the filler material, high temperature stability and a very low flammability. Due to all these properties the injection molded parts are excellent as mechanical construction elements for electronic and optical devices. Xyder is useful material for compression molding, injection molding, plain and reinforced compression molding etc. Because of liquid crystallinity, Xyder and Vectra represent a new dimension in plastics. They have superior tensile properties comparable to glass filled polyester and ease of processing. Melt viscosity is low and not sensitive to temperature at processing shear rate. The viscosity is lower than those of some high performance engineering resins. Vectra uses standard injection molding equipment; Xyder requires some modification because of a higher melting point (the transparency to microwave and high heat deflection temperature make Xyder highly suitable for microwave ovenware, a large captive market). Because of low linear coefficient of thermal expansion and low mold shrinkage, intricate parts as thin as 0.4mm are possible. In addition good electrical properties make LCP suitable for electrical applications. Chemical resistance is manifested in molded chemical distillation tower packing where a single Vectra replaces several expensive metal parts. Deficiencies of LCPs are weak weld lines, poor compressive strength, poor transverse properties caused by anisotropy. Fillers like talc (50%) glass fiber and metal powder improve these properties. 7.4 SC-LCPs as Optical Storage Elements For optical storage in SC-LCPs the thermo-optical effect is utilized, which uses a laser as the source of heat. SC-LCPs containing polysiloxane, polyacrylate and polyester-backbones have been investigated and nematic, cholesteric and smectic phases have been observed. 7 .5 Fabrication of LCP Tubing for Medical Application

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A rigid tubing is made from LCP was developed by using a low cost proprietary extrusion process which overcomes the tendency to LCP to have Uncontrolled orientation. The tubing is made from commercially available LCPs and is being used for important new products in the healthcare market. The tubing is intended for use in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic surgical instruments and other types of endoscopic surgical devices such as cannulae, aspiration-irrigation tubes and electrosurgical pencils. LCP tubing is currently under evaluation for specific products made for health care industries 7.6 Switchable Windows using LCP Normally shades and curtains are used to have privacy in office and homes. The application of this privacy film is in conference rooms, office partition, drive-up windows, retail displays, storefronts, hospitals operating rooms, exterior windows, bathrooms, bedrooms, non-movable windows etc. The future applications are skylights and possible use in automobile and recreational vehicle industries. 7. 7 LCPs: - New Barrier Materials for Packaging These include retortable containers and pouches, moisture-resistance medical packaging, high temperature and chemically resistance containers etc. New processing and packaging application technology such as multilayer liquid crystalline polymer/polyethylene terephthalate (LCP/PET) films, bottles, trays and jars have been the focus of recent product development. Packaging applications targeted for LCP include; > Multilayer bottles and jars with improved 02 and flavor barrier vs. PET and other barrier layers. Multilayer films for all plastics retort pouches and bag-in-box with long shelf life. > Multilayer food trays with one year shelf life and lower cost than ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). > LCP barrier layers for disposable medical bags to replace polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). > LCP laminates for use in high barrier bags for industrial chemicals. > LCP based all plastic lids for snack food cups and trays to replace metal lids. > Plastic liners for reusable steel tanks.
Table 2.2 Typical LCP film properties

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Properties Tensile strength(KPa) Tensile modulus(106KPa) O2 permeability(cc/m2-24hratm) Water vapor transmission rate(gm/m224hr-atm) Upper use temperature(c) Density(gm/cc)

LCP film 2400000 12.4 0.23 at 25um 0.17 at 25um Over 200 1.4

Bixally oriented PET film 172000 5.2 0.28 at 25 um 28 at 25um 120 1.4

7.8LCPs In Paints 7.8.1 Polymeric Vehicle for High Solids Coating They provide vehicles, which give a low viscosity, air-drying coating Composition. The film has good hardness and impact resistance. It comprises of low Tg acrylic/polyester resin and mesogenic groups containing oligomeric phydroxybenzoic acid. This polymeric vehicle is effective for high solid coating. Liquid Crystal acrylic polymers have major advantages when used as binders for high solids nonbake coatings. They form concentrated, stable, low viscosity dispersions in common solvents. The film has excellent hardness and impact resistance. Melamine resin cross-linked acrylic high solids coatings are widely used when hard, weatherable films are required. However, hard films of such coatings tend to be brittle. The desirable combination of high hardness and good toughness are achieved by grafting acrylic copolymers with para-hydroxy benzoic acid (pHBA) to form LC acrylic copolymer. 8.8.2 Powder Coatings with Viewing Angle Dependent Shades These contain non-cross linkable cholesteric LCPs and non cross-linkable nematic LCPs as binders. The novel powder effect coatings comprise of cholesteric LCP, which possess a helical super-structure. The consequence of this superstructure is that the material no longer has the anisotropy of the mechanical properties i.e. customary in case of nematic LCPs. Also the material shows pronounced color effects. These effects are based on selective reflection of incident light by helical super-structure The exact reflection of color depends on the viewing angle and on the pitch of the helix. Polymers that can be used as cholesteric LCPs are all cholesteric MC-LCPS and cholesteric SC-LCPs or combined main chain/side group polymers. 7.8.3 Automobile Coatings with Temperature Dependent Colours These coatings for automobile changes colour with temperature. The coating contains 40-80%

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aqueous resin emulsions and 20-60% thermocromic LCs. Over the phosphated sleet plate, primer is electro-deposited: The middle layer is coated with base composition, baked and covered with coating containing thermocromic LCs and aqueous emulsion. Then clear coat is applied. This will show good weather resistance and color deviation. 7.9 New Directions in LCPs The LCPs such as hydroxy-benzoic acid I hydroxy-naphthoic acid (HBA/HNA) system could be coated onto metal substrate such as Aluminium or Steel to form a tiglitly adherent coating. When two such coatings come in contact of each other at elevated temperature and the modest pressure, one could form a reasonable adhesive joint with a lap Stainless steel (SS) of 1 5000psi. These bonds are very resistant to moisture and are inert to boiling water even after immersion for l0Ohrs. Coatings of LCP on metal substrate such steel have been shown to provide excellent resistance to corrosion and abrasion. Suggesting the possibility of alternate to galvanization of steel with relatively thin LCP coating of 5-10micron. It is possible to cold draw the steel~50% without damaging the coating. 7.10.POWDER COATINGS APPLICATIONS:[2] Improvement in strength, toughness and thermal stability due to measophases formed in LCPs have been studied and exploited in their applications like plastics and fibers. However, their uses in coatings have not received that much attention. Both thermoplastic and thermoset LPCs can be used in powder coatings ideally. The improvement in mechanical properties in transverse direction to the chain orientation is a factor responsible for better performance. Low viscosity of LCPs, their very good chemical and thermal properties and their high gloss can be added advantages. 7.10.1.EPOXIES BASED LCPs IN COATINGS LC epoxy resins have been studied extensively in recent years. These materials exhibit peculiar properties like high heat resistance and superior fracture resistance when compared with conventional isotropic epoxy resins. Onset of LC phase during curing reaction leads to an increase in reaction rate. This is probably due to reduction in the viscosity of the system. LC phase very promising for coating applications. Polymers with mesophase have excellent barrier properties to gases (low permeability). This feature could be another favorable element to use of these resins in coating field. Solid crystalline epoxy based mixtures are suitable for applying by solid coating technology (spraying, electrophoresis, aqueous dispersion) and do not required use of solvents. This technology is environment friendly and less expensive since recycle of organic solvent is not necessary. Modification of alkyds with LC segments to get reduced viscosity, improved drying time and improved film properties are done.liquid crystalline acrylic laquers show lyotropic behavior. This liquid crystalline acrylic copolymer was prepared by grafting oligo, p-hydroxybenzoic acid to hydoxy groups directly on MMA backbones. These copolymers show excellent potential utility as binder for non-bake coatings. 7.11.LCPs IN THERMAL SPRAY COATINGS: LCP coatings can be applied onto large surfaces by high velocity thermal spray methods. They are resistant to most of the chemicals, have a low moisture permeability and high melting temperature, they are attractive coating material to protect large vessels in the petrochemical, brewing and other food and drink processing industries.

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Photocuring of LCPs useful for liquid crystal display technology,UV exposed LCP coatings are rtesponsible for improving the performance of LC display.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS: 7.12. Films Containing Liquid Crystals in a Cellulose Acetate Substrate for Externally Regulated Applicartions [24] Two different series of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films were prepared for their future use as externally controlled electrolytes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) . The liquid crystals used in this work were commercial choleteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) and n-(4methoxybencylidine)-4-butylanilyne (MBBA); cellusose acetate (CA) was used as the polymer substrate. During the last years , direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) have attracted the interest of many researchers and companies because of their advantages with respect to hydrozen fuel cells. Since methanol (MeOH) is liquid at room temperature, fuel storage and transport are less complicated than in hydrozen fuel cells. Furthermore, methanol can also be obtained from renewable sources (bio-alcohols). However , DMFC still present several drawbacks, and their technology is not competitive with other fuel cells or energy conversion devices. One of the most important problems of DMFC is the phenomenon known as crossover. Crossover consists on the transfer of unreacted methanol from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte and occurs when the polymers used in hydrozen fuel cells are applied to DMFC. This phenomenon causes cell efficiency loss of up the 30% as the MeOH reacts with the oxyzen in the cathode in a conventional combustion reaction, and does not contribute to electrical power generation. Research in DMFC has been focused in the preparation of new polymer electrolytes that suppress crossover of MeOH to the cathode . however , the transport mechanisms of MeOH are strongly related to the proton conductivity through water in the electrolyte, and the morphology of the polymer constitutes a key factor to control the cell performance. In this work we propose the use of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) as electrolytes in DMFC. Liquid crystals(LC) are low molecular compounds that exhibit intermediate states between crystalline solids and isotropic liquids. LC can be oriented in the presence of external stimuli such as electrical and magnetic fields and therefore can be externally regulated. In PDLCs, LC from a disperse phase in a polymeric substrate, which allows lowering their cost and increasing some of their mechanical properties. Although the polymer is supposed to act as a mere matrix for the liquid crystal aggregates, most of the PDLC show physical and chemical interactions can influence the formation of mesophases and also modify the stability of the polymeric substrate. In this work we used the solvent evaporation method to prepare two different series of PDLCs films containing cholesteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) and n-(4-methoxybencylidine)-4butylanilyne) (MBBA) as the LC and cellulose acetate (CA) as the polymer substrate.Two series of PDLC films showed different behaviors depending on the nature of the liquid crystal and its interactions with the polymer substrate. The films containing CA and COC maintained their mesomorphic behavior in all range of compositions, indicating that these films behave as

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genuine PDLC. However , there was evidence of some interactions between the two components which altered the properties of the polymeric and liquid crystalline phases. Such interactions lead to a decrease in the thermal stability of the first stages of decomposition and also to a certain inhibition of the substrate degradation. The mechanisms of the different decomposition stages vary with the concentration of COC. On the other hand, the presence of the strong interactions was observed in the films containing CA and MBBA even at low termperatures. Such interactions promoted the inhibition of the mesomeric properties of MBBA in these films. This facts was also accompanied by a decrease in the thermal stability of the samples. Therefore , the membrances containing CA and COC are candidates for their use in electrolytic applications, since they maintain the mesomeric properties and do not suffer a drastic decrease in their thermal stability, while the films containing CA and MBBA had poor chemical and thermal stability, which lead to a suppression of the liquid crystallinity. 7.13. TRANSPORT AND ADHESION PROPERTIES OF AN UNLINE AND A LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER-LINED VINYL ESTER THERMOSET EXPOSED TO SEVERE ENVIRONMENTS [25] The application of liquid-crystalline polymer as lining materials for fiber-reinforced plastics was investigated .The lining consisted of one uniaxially and one biaxially oriented LCP and for comparison , a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer . Its was shown that the LCP was suitable as a lining in organic solvent and nonoxidising acid environments .The reinforcement in the glass-fiber-reinforced plastic led to an increase in the water and methanol diffusivities and transmission rates , which was probably attribute to liquid capillary diffusion .Glass-fiberreinforced plastics ( FRP) based on vinyl ester or polyester resins are widely used in different process components in the chemical and the pulp and paper industries , especially in high corrosive environments were standard stainless steel cannot be used. However , FRP materials are sensitive to certain aggressive media. In such cases , a lining made of a more chemically resistant material , such as poly vinyl chloride (PVC) , polypropylene (PP) , or a fluoropolymer is often used. The lifetime of the lining and the FRP structure is often limited by the diffusion of the corrosive substance into and through the lining . A relatively new range of polymers that show interesting barrier properties , because of their high degree of molecular packing , are the liquid-crystalline polymers (LCP) . Their gas and vapour barrier properties are known to be outstanding among all types of plastic materials and their chemical resistance is also reported to be good . Extrusion processes for LCP film and piping have recently been developed and LCP seems to have the potential to serve as a cost-effective lining material for FRP structures. LCP was especially suitable for use in contact with organic solvents and nonoxidising acid environments .In general the diffusivity and transmission rate in LCP were approximately one to several orders of magnitude lower than those in FEP and the vinyl ester . 7.14. LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR HIGH SPEED APPLICATION:[10] Laminated LCP with copper foil is used to form a printed circuit board(PCB) achieving a highly dense and functional electronic package.This package has the potential to surpass the

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conventional PCB materials limit for use in high frequency and high speed data transmission in wireless local area networks,40Gbps high-end routers and services,microprocessors above 5 GHz, and 10 Gbps application-specific integrated circuits. The ultra-fine pitch circuit and multilayer interconnect design could then comes with these high speed or high-frequency applications.To overcome the drawbacks of traditional drilling and chemical processing new fabrication technology is developed. 7.15.LIQUID CRYSTALLINE BEHAVIOR OF CHITOSAN IN MALIC ACID [8]: Chitin is abundant natural polymer. It is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine linked by B-1,4-glycosidic bonds.Both the shells of shrimps,carbs,and mollusks and the cell walls of fungi and algae contain chitin as one of their major structural components.The deacetylation of chitin with a hot alkali solution or an enzyme gives rise to chitosan,whose physicochemical properties depend closely on its degree of deacetylation and molecular weight.Chitosan is nontoxic,biocompatible,and biodegradable polymer.Because of its specific properties chitosan has number of applications in biological medicine, food, agriculture, cosmetics, textiles, nanoparticles, water engineering .Chitosan and acetopropyl chitosan demonstrate both lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior.Liquid crystals were preapared by dissolution of a relatively low concentration of chitosan in malic acid.This novel crystal system of chitosan could be applied to the controlled release of pharmaceuticals or cosmetics ingredients. 7.16.ENHANCED WEAR PERFORMANCE OF NYLON 6/ORGANOCLAY NANOCOMPOSITE BY BLENDING WITH A THERMOTROPIC LCP:[7] Nylon/montmorillonite(MMT) nanocomposite is one of the most successful clay-based polymer nanocomposite.The specific interaction between the cationic ammonium ends of nylon and the negatively charged MMT layer is one of the main reasons for the formation of exfoliated structure which imparts the nanocomposites with superior mechanical thermal properties.With low clay content(less than 10%),nylon nanocomposites show significant improvements in stiffness,gas and water vapor barrier properties,antidegradation performances and flame retardancy. Nylon homopolymers possess excellent wear resistant. But the nanocomposites show reduced friction coefficient and specific wear rate when compared with neat PA6. A hybrid approach that blending well-dispersed PA6/OMMT nanocomposite with a TLCP was adopted to improve the wear performance of PA6 nanocomposites. TLCP is good option because TLCPs possess excellent mechanical and thermal properties yet still have the relatively low melt viscosity and good processability.

7.17.ELECTROOPTIC STUDIES ON POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL COMPOSITE FILMS:[3] Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) have attracted much attention recently as novel electronic materials for wide variety of electrooptic applications ranging from switchable windows to high resolution active matrix projection display,projection light valves and switching

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gratings. Composite films composed of poly (metylmethacrylate-co-butyl acrylate)(PMMABA)and nematic type liquid crystal E7 and E8(cynophenyl derivatives, commercial product from E.Merk,Darmstadt, Germany) were prepared through solvent casting in chloroform. Stressed LC films consisting of unidirectionally oriented domains of LC separated with polymer chains have been developed. These PDLC films eliminate light scattering, produce a large electrically controlled shift in refractive index, and switch with sub millisecond speed, major applications of these new electrooptic materials are in electrically controlled phaseretardation devices, which include high speed displays, beam-steering devices and light modulators. In PDLC film, an LC material is embedded in an isotropic polymer matrix in the form of droplets of micrometer to submicrometer size. Then the film is electrically driven by being sandwitched between two conducting electrodes. However, each specific application has its own electrical constraints, such as the on driving voltage, power consumption and frequency of operation. Nevertheless, these PDLC films still have the advantage that they draw very little current and consume little electric field power. The operational principle of these PDLC films based on electric field controlled light scattering from the optical microstructure heterogeneities and/ or homogeneities produced because of LC droplets. The spatial distrotion of LC nematic directors induced by the randomly oriented polymer network/polymer walls in composite PDLC films and mismatch of the refractive indices between the polymer and LC are the origins of the light scattering. The distortion of nematic directors in LC droplets/channels and therefore the high scattering and switching properties Of PDLC films are strongly dependent on the aggregation structure of composite films. The aggregation structure in terms of the size of LC droplets and channels, can be controlled on the basis of solvent evaporation rate and the component ration during the film preparation process. The LC domains for E7 were larger and more elongated than those for E8 in composites. Both LCs ,E7 and E8 lowered Tg of the PMMABA matrix. It has been postulated that the higher the solubility is the lower Tg is and thus the lower the surface interactions are between the LC and matrix polymer in composites. In such case, a smaller electric field becomes necessary to overcome interfacial interactions and this consequently lower the voltage required for the orientation of nematic directors in a bipolar configuration. The PDLC film containing LC E7 showed lower voltage value. 7.18.THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE CARBON-FILLED LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER COMPOSITES [5,9] The thermal and electrical conductivity of resins can be increased by adding conductive carbon fillers. One emerging market for thermally and electrically conductive resins is for bipolar plates for use in fuel cells. Among five different types of carbon, one carbon black ,two synthetic graphite, one natural flake graphite, one calcined needle coke, composites containing thermocarb TC-300 synthetic graphite particles had the highest thermal and electrical conductivity when added to Vectra LCP. The electrical conductivity of TLCP can also increased with an addition of carbon nanofibers.

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7.19. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING FLEX CIRCUITS MADE WITH AN LCP SUBSTRATE [18]: Flexible or flex circuits are used in wide variety of applications where an electrical circuit must bend around a corners or be flexed during the operations. Flex circuits are light weight, thin, flexible and exhibit high routability. Traditionally polyamides films have been used as substrates in flex circuits due to their good thermal stability and mechanical strength. Other properties of the polyamide films limits the speed or frequency at which electric components mounted can operate. LCP has been developed in recent years as replacement of polyamide films in flex circuits LCP is thermoplastic aromatic polyester which is thermally stable, with an upper use temperature in excess of 2500 C and good flame retardant properties. LCP films in comparison to polyamide films have about one tenth of moisture uptake and lower coefficient of humidity expansion. Lower moisture absorption leads to higher frequency signal and data processing. The fabrication of flex circuit with LCP films is expected to lead to their use in more demanding environment where the moisture and contaminants are prevalent. 7.20. INSULATORS FOR TRANSFORMER [14]: This invention provides discrete insulators for an electrical transformer,made of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer.A transformer is a device for stepping up and stepping down the voltage of alternating electric signal and it is wiedly used for transferring energy of an alternating current in primary winding to that in one or more secondary windings.Small transformers can be made by encapsulatig the conductor coils in LCP as dielectic. Encapsulation is not useful for large transformer for them spacers in the form of axial sticks or radial spacers must be used to ensure and maintain effective cooling of transformer coils. Dielectric elements in the form of vertical sticks,axial and radial spacers,must be made of electrically insulating material.Electrically insulating material must be made up of appropriate dielectric strength and able to withstand heat and fluctuations of temperature.spacers should also withstand mechanical stresses during operation of transformer.In conventional transformer spacers are made of variety of insulating material like cellulose fibers,paper or board,ceramic material,aramide fiber,glass fiber filled thermoset material such as epoxy or polyester. Cellulose insulation is limited to low temperature and moisture absorption behavior of cellulose affects dimentional stability and consistency of the parts. Structural rigidity of glass fiber reinforced material shortens life of insulator and may precipitate partial discharges or corona effects leads to breakdown of insulator. Ceramic spacers are brittle so require frequent repairing.Use of aramaide fibers and pressboard lead to high cost. To overcome all these difficulties LCP spacers are used. Preffered forms of LCP are all aromatics and polyesters. 7.21. MICROWAVE CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY [16] It is a common practice to fabricate microwave strip line assemblies by patterning conductor on laminate. The disadvantage is associated with the assemblies when the higher performance is required is that they exhibit relatively very high microwave loss.

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Recently introduced alternative to these assemblies is suspended substrate stripline structure(SSS) structure, where the conductor is patterned on a thin dielectric that is suspended between the two ground planes. Thus, the volume between the ground planes can mainly comprise air, which results in lower levels of microwave loss. A rigid silicon-based material is normally used for supporting the conductor. However, these structures are more expensive to produce than the bonded assemblies and problems can arise because silicon absorbs water and has different characteristics, e.g. dielectric constant, to the other materials that are commonly used in the circuit assembly. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a microwave circuit assembly including a Liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) layer supporting at least one microwave circuit component first ground plane layer forming a first outer surface of the assembly and being spaced apart at least partially by a gas, a mixture of gases, or a vacuum, from the LCP supporting layer and the at least one microwave circuit component, and a second ground plane layer forming another outer surface of the assembly and being spaced apart at least partially by a gas, a mixture of gases, or a vacuum, from the LCP supporting layer and the at least one microwave circuit component. The use of LCP layers enables production of very homogeneous layers having the same or similar temperature coefficients and with little or no fault lines. 7.22.HEAT EXCHANGERS CONTAINING LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER LAYERS[19]: This invention concerns a heat exchanger wherein the material which comprises the heat exchange surface structure contains at least one layer of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and at least one layer of an isotropic thermoplastic where light weight is important such as in automobiles, trucks, aircrafts. Heat exchangers are common pieces of equipment, used in many applications, such as chemical processes, in automotive uses, household uses, and others. Heat exchangers are most commonly used to transfer heat between two fuids such as two liquids, a liquid and a gas, or between two gases. Traditionally, the materials used for the heat exchange surfaces are metals, which usually have relatively high thermal conductivities and good strength. However metals have certain drawbacks, such as high forming and assembly costs, relatively high densities and therefore high weights, and sometimes poor corrosion resistance. To overcome some of these disadvantages, heat exchangers using plastics have been developed. For instance, in highly corrosive environments heat exchangers using polytetrafluoroethylene (or perfluorinated tetrafluoro ethylenecopolymers) have been used. However plastics have some inherent disadvantages, such as poorer heat transfer coefficients, in some cases relatively poor chemical stability, and permeability to the gas(es) or liquid(s) which contact the heat exchange surfaces. However, they often offer the advantages of lighter weight and easier fabrication than metals. Therefore, improved plastic heat exchangers are being sought.This invention concerns, a heat exchanger containing a heat exchange surface material, comprising, a layer of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a layer of a thermoplastic. It has been found that a layer of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) used in the heat exchanger structure material often alleviates or eliminates one or more of the above mentioned problems.LCPs used are Polyester, polyesteramide, polyesterimide, polyazomethines and thermoplastic polyolefines such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene are used.

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7.23.MEDICAL DEVICES MADE FROM POLYMER BLENDS CONTAINING LOW MELTING TEMPERATURE LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS[26]: In one aspect the invention comprises a medical device at least a portion of which is composed of a polymeric material in which the polymeric material is a melt blend product of at least two different thermoplastic polymers, one of the thermoplastic polymers being a thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer having a melting point of about 275 C. or less, and especially 250 C. or less. Catheters and catheter balloons are specific medical devices to which the invention may be applied. The low temperature LCP component may be used at relatively low levels to impart higher strength and resistance to shrinkage to base polymer materials of greater flexibility, softness or elasticity than had previously been usable withavailable LCPs. Vextra, polyester type LCP, polyesteramide type LCP having MP220 is used. 7.24.ROPE FOR HEAVY LIFTING APPLICATIONS[20]: In heavy lifting or mooring applications, such as marine, oceanographic, offshore oil and gas, seismic, and industrial applications, a standard rope is made from high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) filaments, such as those commercially available under the name of SPECTRA .Therein is disclosed a braided rope construction in which filaments are twisted to form a twisted yarn, the twisted yarns are braided to form a braided strand, and the braided strands are then braided to form the braided rope. The type of damage that leads to failure in these ropes is highly dependent on the service conditions, the construction of the rope, but most importantly the type of fibers used to manufacture the rope. The first damage mechanism is frictional heat generated within the rope. This heat may be caused by the individual elements of the rope abrading one another; as well as, the rope rubbing against the drum, pulley, or sheave. This generated heat can be great enough to cause a catastrophic failure of the rope. This problem is particularly evident when the fiber material loses a substantial amount of strength (or becomes susceptible to creep rupture), when heated above ambient temperature. For example, HMPE fibers exhibit this type of failure; HMPE fibers, however, exhibit the least amount of fiber-to-fiber abrasion.The second damage mechanism observed during over-sheave cycling of ropes is self-abrasion or fiber-tofiber abrasion (i.e., rope fibers rubbing against one another). This type of damage is most often observed in ropes made from liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fibers. For example, aramids are known to be a poor material for general rope use because of self-abrasion; aramid fibers, however, are not generally susceptible to creep rupture. Primary occurrence of damaging abrasion was at the intersection between the subropes In the prior art, jacketing the subropes is a known method for reducing abrasion between the subropes. These jackets, however, add to the overall diameter, weight and cost of the rope without any appre-ciable increase in the rope's strength. The larger size is obviously undesirable because it would require larger drums, pulleys, or sheaves to handle the jacketed rope. Small diameter rope (i.e., diameters less than or equal to1.5 inches or 34 mm) made of blends of HMPE filaments and liquid crystal polymer filaments selected from the group of lyotropic and thermotropic polymer filaments are known. In these small diameter ropes, the reason for blending HMPE and LCP fibers is to reduce creep elongation.

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7.25.LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE [15,17]: It relates to a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device having the same. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates. The two substrates form an electric field. The liquid crystal layer may be formed of a liquid crystal composition and selective additives. The LCD device is being used for a large-sized display device such as a television. It is also noted that the LCD device has improved considerably with regard to viewing angle, color reproducibility, and brightness. However, the response time of the LCD device is still needs further improvement. The LCD device is also being employed for portable electronic equipment such as, for example, a notebook, which can be driven at a low voltage level. The response time of the LCD device is closely related to the rotational viscosity of a liquid crystal composition. That is, when the liquid crystal composition has a low rotational viscosity, the LCD device may have a shorter response time. Meanwhile, a driving voltage required for the LCD device is closely connected with the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal composition. Namely, when the liquid crystal composition has a high dielectric anisotropy, the LCD device can be driven at a low voltage level. Thus, a liquid crystal composition with a low rotational viscosity and high dielectric anisotropy is favorable to improve the response time of the LCD device and to drive the device at a low voltage level. However, liquid crystal molecules forming a liquid crystal composition generally have high rotational viscosity when they have high dielectric anisotropy. Thus, it may be difficult to improve the response time of the LCD device and drive the device at low voltage at the same time.Further, a distance between two substrates, e.g., cell gap, should to be short to improve response time. A liquid crystal composition having a high refractive anisotropy is favorable to obtain a desired delay value of a liquid crystal layer with a short cell gap.

LAMINATES OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERIC FILMS FOR POLARIZERAPPLICATIONSFIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to laminates containing polarizer switch contain liquid crystal polymers and dichroic dyes. Such polarizer laminates are useful in liquid crystal display devices for further improvement and a color filter which substantially has no gap between color filter patterns of different colors and is therefore higher in the aperture ratio and reflection efficiency.color filter with improved optical performance are used for further improvement. 7.26. NOVEL LIQUID CRYSTAL THERMOSET RESINS FOR CRYOGENIC FUEL TANK APPLICATIONS [21]: One of the major challenges for NASAs next generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV) program is the design of a cryogenic lightweight composite liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel tank. Potential resin systems need to exhibit a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), good mechanical strength, and excellent barrier properties at cryogenic temperatures under load. In addition, the resin needs to be suitable for a variety of processing techniques such as resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film infusion (RFI), pultrusion. To meet these requirements,they

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have designed a new family of wholly aromatic liquid crystalline (LC) resins with a wide range of processing capabilities. Thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are a well-known class of engineering plastics with excellent physical properties, high mechanical strength in the direction of orientation, outstanding barrierproperties, and low viscosity during processing. Although most commercial available LCPs are synthesized from aromatic monomers, they exhibit low glass-transition temperatures (Tg) and low moduli (E) at elevated temperatures. One potential solution to this problem is the design of densely cross-linked anisotropic networks. This concept in a variety of epoxy-based LC resins both nematic and smectic networks showed an increase in moduli at elevated temperature, however, a decrease in Tg upon increased molecular ordering was observed. Several groups researched thermotropic systems and these materials appeared more promising. Low-molecular weight mesogenic structures, end-capped with different reactive functionalities displayed high Tgs and high rubbery moduli.This approach, however, gave materials with small processing windows and poor mesophase behavior.The new family wholly aromatic high-performance LC thermoset materials, which are suitable as matrix resins for fiber reinforced composites.The resins are designed around the Vectra , where the 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (HBA)/6-hydroxyy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) polymer back-bone is end-capped with thermally crosslinkable phenylethynyl units. A new family of LC thermosets with excellent thermal, mechanical and barrier properties. For the first time it has been demonstrated that LC resins can be used as composite matrixes. Mechanical studies of un-oriented cured films and composites gave values very similar to typical aerospace epoxy resins. Although cryogenic composite testing with H2(l) is still in progress, our results so far suggest that LC thermoset resins are excellent candidates for the fabrication of carbon-reinforced fuel tanks.

7.27.ROBUST, PAPER LIKE LCP EVALUATED FOR NASA APPLICATIONS [22]: Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have received funding from the NASA/Earth Science Technology Office to evaluate a material called liquid crystal polymer (LCP) for electronics applications in space. The ultra-thin, paper-like plastic can incorporate a variety of electronic circuits, yet it molds to any shape and appears to perform well in the extreme temperatures and intense radiation encountered by NASA spacecraft. Research to date indicates that LCP outperforms conventional materials for antennas and circuit boards in high-frequency radio applications aboard space vehicles. Light weight is the material's biggest potential benefit to NASA, Flexible LCP antennas would be lighter than today's structured antennas, and LCPbased circuits molded to available spacecraft areas could eliminate heavy metal boxes that currently house rigid circuit boards.Aromatic crystal polyester comprised of benzene rings, acetyloxy polymers, and carboxyl groups allows it to be heat resistant, flexible and strong while also possessing excellent electrical performance. Moreover, the material can serve as a highly efficient substrate material on which semiconductor chips are attached as well as the backplane that connects those chips together, said Papapolymerou, who with Prof. Manos Tentzeris leads a team researching LCP. Even micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices

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could be embedded on LCP, along with integrated circuits. Among the material's advantages:

It is "near-hermetic" highly resistant to humidity and other environmental conditions. It could be applied almost like wallpaper to space and other vehicles, forming large antennas aloft. It effectively processes radio frequencies (RF) up to 110 GHz, which is well into the millimeter wave range used for radars as well as for military and scientific communications. By contrast, conventional circuit-board RF capabilities dwindle swiftly above 5 GHz. It is cheaper to make than competing hermetic technologies such as ceramic substrates.

Its thermal-expansion properties allow it to form multi-layer structures that won't crack or delaminate. That could lead to three-dimensional circuits that provide both reliability and a smaller footprint

7.28.THE NEW TYPE OF LCP: DISCOTIC LIQUID CRYSTALS [27]: The discovery of discotic liquid crystals in which the individual molecular units exhibiting the phase present a disc-like rather than the archetypal lath-like shape, stimulated a period of intense curiosity-driven research prepared hexasubstituted benzene derivatives which were the first molecules to give the phase. Molecules in the LC phase were found to arrange in columns (columnar mesophases). Attention shifted rapidly from these simple benzene derivatives to more versatile and accommodating cores leading to the observation of numerous columnar mesophases and the discotic nematic phase, where the molecules retain their preferred alignment direction, but lose the additional columnar order . As the field matured, it became apparent that these materials present supramolecular properties, which lend themselves towards device application, and this in turn has led to an enhanced effort on the synthesis and the investigation of new discotic materials with a view to understand the molecular features that govern mesophase behaviour in disc-like systems. 7.29.ELECTRICALLY TUNABLE WETTABILITY OF LCP COMPOSITE FILMS [12]: Tunable wettability of designed surfaces has many applications, such as automobile windshield, polarizer-free display, ink-jet printing, microfluidic device, and lab-on-a-chip. Recently developed an LC/polymer composite film using a phase separation process to make a double-layered LC phase modulator and a single-substrate in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display . The LC/polymer composite film can also be used as an alternative substrate as well as an alignment layer. An electrically tunable wettability in the LC/polymer composite film by controlling the orientation of LC molecules anchored among the polymer grains. The contact angle of a water droplet on the LC/polymer composite films at room temperature can be switched in the range between 65 and 80 by an in-plane electric field.The LC reorientation

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among polymer grains at the LC/polymer composite film surfaces, which are switched by the electric field, is responsible for the observed tunable wettability of the LC/polymer composite film. The major advantages of LC/polymer composite film are threefold: 1) small Joules heating which is a common issue for electrowetting in water-based devices, 2) small hysterisis, and 3) low power consumption.

7.30.AZOBENZENE LCP-BASED MEMBRANE AND CANTILEVER OPTICAL SYSTEMS [11]: Smart optical systems consisting of light-responsive materials are gaining in significance, particularly for imaging and sensing purposes. Such functionality is typically obtained using materials with nonlinear optical refraction, diffraction, or transmission (absorption). In the case of optical sensors, the required photosensitivity of the detector necessitates the use of optical materials with extremely high optical nonlinearity. The most notable optical application of azo-based materials is the formation of surface relief gratings in azo-based polymers formed by spatial or polarization holography. Azo-Liquid Crystal Network(LCN) materials may allow the design of optical systems with highly efficient and practical photoresponsive features. These developments inject realism into the prospects of producing optically controlled LCN components whose ability to interact with light can be modulated by incoming radiation.

8.CONCLUSION:Liquid crystalline polymers materials exhibits high performance properties because of which they have wide range of applications in various fields. Properties can still improve by blending it with different materials i.e by making composites or by doing some structural modifications, like in case of PBO by ues of carbon nanotubes for increase in tensile strength. Light weight,low moisture absorption,high impact strengh, low melt viscosity, good mechanical properties all these properties contribute to all applications.

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9.REFERENCES: 1] Vijaykumar patil, liquid crystalline polymer and application in powder coating, 3486,2004 2] xin-jiu wang, Qi-feng zhou, liquid crystalline polymer,2004 3] A. K. Kalkar, V. V. Kunte, S. A. Bhamare, J Appl Polym Sci 2008, 107,689 4] Kalkar, Kunthe, V. V. Deshpande, A.A., J Appl Polym Sci 1999,74,3485 5] Jason M. Keith, Julia A. King, Kara M. Lenhart, Bridget Zimny, J Appl Polym Sci 2007, 105, 3309 6] No-hyung Park, Seong-a Cho, Ju-young Kim, Kyung-do Suh, J Appl Polym Sci 2000, 77, 3178 7] Baoqing Zhang, Julla Shuk-Ping Wong, Richard Ching-Man Yam, Robert Kwok-Yiu Li, J Polym Engg Sci, 2010, 50,857 8] Jenq Shenq Chang, Ke Liang B. Chang, Min Lang Tsai, J Appl Polym Sci, 2007, 105, 2670 9] Julia A. King, Michael G. Miller, Rodwick L. Barton, Jason M. Keith, Rebecca A. Hauser, Karl R. Peterson, Lawrence L. Sutter, J Appl Polym Sci, 2006,99,1552 10] K. C. Yung, H. Choy, T. M. Yue, J Appl Polym Sci, 2010, 116, 2348 11] Svetlana V. Serak, Nelson V. Tabiryan1*, Timothy J. White, and Timothy J. Bunning, 2009; OSA 31 August 2009 ,Vol. 17, OPTICS EXPRESS 15746 12] Yi-Hsin Lin1,Hongwen Ren, Yung-Hsun Wu, Shin-Tson Wu,Yue Zhao, Jiyu Fang, and Hung-Chun Lin, 2008 OSA 27 October 2008 , Vol. 16, OPTICS EXPRESS 17591 13] Jun Young Kim, Materials 2009, 2, 1955-1974; doi:10.3390/ma2041955 14] Richard p. Marke, Jean Perrie Jacob, Glorgio Patrizio, U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2008/0061919 15] Norihiro Arai, Kunpei Kobayashi U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2009/0167981 16] Murray Jerel Niman , Robert Brian Greed ,U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2010/0237966

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17] Su-Jung Huh , Duck-jong suh, So yun park, U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2009/0168008 18] C. W. Sinjin Smith, Charles M. Newton, Paul B. Jaynes, U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2006/0028612 19] U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2003/0032154 20] U. S. Pat. Appl. Pub US 2005/6945153 21] Theo.J. Dingemans, Sybrand van der Zwaag, Alwin Knijnenberg,Erik S. Weiser, Brian J. Jensen, INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE AERONAUTICAL SCIENCES 2004 22] www.physorg.com/news75481511 23] Han Gi Chae, Satish Kumar, J Appl Polym Sci, 2006,100.791 24] Alfonso Martinez Felipe, Enrique Ballester Sarrias, Corrie Timrie, Amparo Ribes Greus, J Appl Polym Sci, 2010, 115, 3282 25] S. Romhild, G. Bergman, M. S. Hedenqvist, J Appl Polym Sci, 2005,95, 797 26] Lixiao Wang , Jianhua Chean, U. S. Pat App Pub US 2006/7101597 27] Andrew N Cammidge, The royal society, 2006, 364, 2697