Chain orientation in melt-extruded samples of vectra A, vectra B, and blends in relation to the mechanical properties

The profile of molecular orientation within injection-molded tensile bars of the liquid crystalline copolyesters Vectra A, Vectra B, and Vectra C, as well as blends of these polymers, was investigated by means of wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) using synchrotron radiation (HASYLAB, Hamburg). The local variation of chain orientation was resolved into steps of 100 μm. An even higher resolution was obtained by using the microfocus camera (focal spot 2 μm) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble. In Vectra A and in the blend of Vectra A and Vectra B, a smooth variation of the orientation was found being almost zero at the surface and showing its maximum at a distance of 0.6 mm from the surface. The orientation in Vectra B was rather fluctuating. The average chain orientation in the blend samples processed under the same conditions was higher than in samples of the pure liquid crystalline copolyesters. The mechanical properties of the different layers within the injection moldings were determined by cutting the samples into slices and measuring the stress-strain curves. For specimens of comparable orientation, it turned out that the blend samples had the largest values of Young's modulus and tensile strength. The synergism of orientation and mechanical strength was also found for different blend compositions, as well as in blends of Vectra B and Vectra C. Annealing the injection moldings above the melting point resulted in a rapid relaxation of the orientation, whereas the chain alignment persisted at lower temperatures. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67: 531–545, 1998