Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blend with reduced surface abrasion

Claim 2

A moulding compound comprising a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer matrix having wollastonite fibres incorporated therein, the wollastonite fibres having an average aspect ratio greater than 3 to 1.

Claim 3

The moulding compound of claim 1 wherein the wollastonite fibres have an average aspect ratio of at least 10 to 1.

Claim 4

The moulding compound of claim 2 wherein the wollastonite fibres have-an average aspect ratio of at least 20 to 1.

Claim 5

The moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 3 wherein the wollastonite fibres are treated with a titanate coupling agent prior to being blended with the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer to produce the moulding compound.

Claim 6

The moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 4 wherein the wollastonite fibres are present in the moulding compound in an amount of 10 to 70% by volume.

Claim 7

The moulding compound of claim 5 wherein the wollastonite fibres are present.in the moulding compound in an amount of 10 to 40% by volume.

Claim 8

The moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 6 wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer has an inherent viscosity of between 1.0 and 15 dl./g. when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight of pentafluorophenol at 60°C.

Claim 9

The moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 7 wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is selected from wholly aromatic polyesters, aromatic-aliphatic polyesters, wholly aromatic poly(ester-amide)s, aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-amide)s, aromatic polyazomethines, aromatic polyester-carbonates and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The moulding compound of claim 8, wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is a melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 400°C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III and optionally IV wherein: is II is - -A- -, where A is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring or a divalent trans-1,4-cyclohexylene radical ; III is -Y-Ar-Z, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is 0, NH or NR and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; and IV is -O-Ar'-O-, where Ar' is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring; wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the rings may optionally be replaced by substituents selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl and mixtures -thereof, and wherein said poly(ester-amide) comprises 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety I, 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety II, 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety III and O.to 40 mole percent of moiety IV.

Claim 11

The moulding compound of claim 8, wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 400°C. consisting essentially of the recurring moieties I, II and III which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: I is II is a dioxy aryl moiety of the formula -0-Ar-O-where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and III is a dicarboxy aryl moiety of the formula where Ar' is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, with said optional substituents if present being selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl groups and mixtures of the foregoing, and wherein said polyester comprises 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety I, 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety II and 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety III.

Claim 12

The moulding compound of claim 8, wherein the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester capable of forming a thermotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350°C. consisting essentially of the recurring moieties I and II which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: I is II is and with said optional substituents if present being selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl and mixtures of the foregoing, and wherein said polyester comprises 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety I and 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety II.

Claim 13

A moulded article produced from the moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 11.

Claim 14

An extruded article produced from the moulding compound of any of claims 1 - 11.