Melt blend of non-thermotropic and thermotropic wholly aromatic polyesters

Claim 2

A polymer melt blend which is capable of exhibiting an anisotropic melt phase and the ability to form shaped articles having satisfactory mechanical properties comprising: (a) approximately 20 to approximately 75 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of components (a) and (b), of a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is not capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase apart from said blend; and (b) approximately 25 to approximately 80 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of components (a) and (b), of a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase apart from said blend and which .. is substantially present in the blend in the form of elongated domains of an aspect ratio of at least about 3 and a volume of at least about 1µ 3 .

Claim 3

The polymer blend of Claim 1 which is capable of undergoing melt processing at a temperature within the range of approximately 240°C. to 400°C.

Claim 4

.The polymer blend of Claim 1 which is capable of undergoing melt processing at a temperature within the range of approximately 275°C. to 350°C.

Claim 5

The polymer blend of Claim 1 wherein said component (a) is a copolymer of bisphenol A, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid.

Claim 6

The polymer blend of Claim 1 wherein said component (a) is a copolymer of bisphenol A and terephthalic acid.

Claim 7

The polymer blend of Claim 1 wherein said component (b) apart from said blend is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400°C.

Claim 8

The polymer blend of Claim 1 wherein said component (b) apart from said blend exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least 2.0 dl./g. when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60°C.

Claim 9

The polymer blend of claim 1 wherein said component (a) is present in an amount ranging from approximately 70 to approximately 50 percent by weight and said component (b) is present in an amount ranging from approximately 30 to 50 percent by weight.

Claim 10

A molding compound comprising the polymer blend of claim 1 which incorporates approximately 1 to 50 percent by weight based upon the total weight of said molding compound, of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 11

The molding compound of Claim 9 which incorporates approximately 10 to approximately 30 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of said molding compound, of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 12

ll. A molded article comprising the polymer blend of claim 1.

Claim 13

An extruded article comprising the polymer blend of claim 1.

Claim 14

A fiber which has been melt spun from the polymer blend of claim 1.

Claim 15

A film which has been melt extruded from the polymer blend of claim 1.

Claim 16

The polymer blend of claim 1 wherein said component (b) consists essentially of the recurring moieties I and II wherein: ; and ; and wherein the polyester comprises approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety I, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety II, and wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the rings optionally may be replaced by substitution seiected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, substituted phenyl, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 17

The polymer blend of claim 1 wherein said component (b) consists essentially of recurring moieties I, II , III and, optionally, IV wherein: II is , 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 O, 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 optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, substituted phenyl and mixtures thereof, and wherein said polyester-amide comprises approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety I, approximately 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety II, approximately 5 to 45 mole percent of moiety III, and approximately 0 to 40 mole percent of moiety IV.