Sheet extrusion of in-situ composites - influence of processing parameters

Unidirectional sheets were extruded of an in-situ composite of thermotropic liquid crystalline Vectra B950 in a matrix of polyphenylene-ether and polystyrene. Three important processing parameters were systematically varied: draw-ratio, slit opening and extruder throughput. Morphology and mechanical properties of these films were determined, and qualitatively related to the processing conditions.