Abstract: Finely divided and free-flowing powders of a thermotropic polymer, e.g., a wholly aromatic polyester or a wholly aromatic polyesteramide, are produced by (a) extruding a melt of such thermotropic polymer through an extrusion apparatus including a downstream die member to provide at least one solid cylindrical profile thereof, during which extrusion (i) the molten thermotropic polymer is at a temperature T.sub.1 greater than the melting temperature T.sub.M thereof at which the liquid crystal phase develops, while (ii) cooling such molten thermotropic polymer no later than the instant of its inlet entry into the die member to a temperature T.sub.2 ranging from a value 7.degree. C. less than the temperature T.sub.M to a minimum value equal to the crystallization temperature T.sub.c thereof, and (iii) maintaining this temperature T.sub.