Abstract: A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer composition capable of exhibiting both a low melting temperature and good heat resistance without the use of conventional naphthenic acids is provided. The melting temperature may, for example, range from about 250° C. to about 400° C. Even at such low melting temperatures, the present inventors have surprisingly discovered that the ratio of the deflection temperature under load (“DTUL”), a measure of short term heat resistance, to the melting temperature may remain relatively high. The specific DTUL values may range from about 200° C. to about 300° C. The ability to form a polymer composition with the properties noted above may be achieved, at least in part, by the use of an aromatic amide oligomer.

Abstract: A method for making a polystyrene ionomer comprises: preparing a metallic comonomer within styrene monomer to form a reaction mixture; and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for the formation of a polymer composition. The metallic comonomer can be a metal acrylate, formed by contacting a metal complex and an acrylate precursor.

Abstract: A melt-extruded substrate that can be readily thermoformed into a shaped, three-dimensional article is provided. The substrate is formed from a polymer composition that contains a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a unique aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that the oligomer can help increase the “low shear” complex viscosity of the resulting polymer. The ability to achieve enhanced low shear viscosity values can lead to polymer compositions with an increased melt strength, which allows the resulting substrate to better maintain its shape during thermoforming without exhibiting a substantial amount of sag. Due to its relatively high degree of melt strength, the polymer composition is particularly well suited for forming thin extruded substrates for use in thermoforming processes.

Abstract: An aromatic amide compound having the following general formula (I) is provided: wherein, X1 and X2 are independently C(O)HN or NHC(O); G1, G2 and G3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of G1, G2 and G3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; Q1, Q2, and Q3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of Q1, Q2, and Q3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; R5 is halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; and m is from 0 to 4.

Abstract: A method for making a polystyrene ionomer comprises: preparing a metallic comonomer within styrene monomer to form a reaction mixture; and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for the formation of a polymer composition. The metallic comonomer can be a metal acrylate, formed by contacting a metal complex and an acrylate precursor.

Abstract: A fiber formed from a polymer composition that comprises a liquid crystalline polymer and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The present inventors have discovered that the oligomer can act as a flow aid for the polymer, which can provide a variety of different benefits. For example, the use of the oligomer during polymerization can lower the melt viscosity of the polymer as it is formed. This enables the formation of high molecular weight polymers that do not solidify within the reactor vessel. The formation of high molecular weight polymers during melt polymerization can, in turn, provide a variety of benefits, such as allowing for higher molecular weight polymers to be formed through additional processing (e.g., solid state polymerization) than conventionally possible, as well as enhancing the melt strength of the polymer composition and thereby aiding in the fiber formation process.

Abstract: An aromatic amide compound having the following general formula (I) is provided: wherein, X1 and X2 are independently C(O)HN or NHC(O); G1, G2 and G3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of G1, G2 and G3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; Q1, Q2, and Q3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of Q1, Q2, and Q3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; R5 is halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; and m is from 0 to 4.

Abstract: A method for forming a high molecular weight thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is provided. The method includes melt polymerizing two or more monomers in the presence of a unique aromatic amide oligomer to form a prepolymer, and then solid-state polymerizing the prepolymer to achieve a target molecular weight. The present inventors have discovered that a unique aromatic amide oligomer can be employed to help increase the “low shear” complex viscosity of the resulting solid-state polymerized composition. This allows for the attainment of higher than conventional “low shear” complex viscosity values and/or a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a target complex viscosity. In addition, the oligomeric flow aid can also accelerate the extent to which the “high shear” melt viscosity is increased during solid-state polymerization, which may also contribute to a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a certain molecular weight.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for forming a liquid crystalline polymer is provided. More particularly, the process includes acetylating one or more precursor monomers and melt-polymerizing the acetylated monomers to form a prepolymer in the form of a solid particulate material. Thereafter, the prepolymer is solid-state polymerized in a fluidized bed reactor that contains a porous surface (e.g., bed, plate, grate, etc.) on which the prepolymer is supported. While supported by this porous surface, the prepolymer can become “fluidized” with a heated stream of a gas (e.g., nitrogen). In this manner, a sufficient degree of turbulence is created to distribute heat evenly around the prepolymer and cause it to rapidly reach the target reaction temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing power consumption in an IP (Internet Protocol) communications device. The apparatus may include a high-power consumption main application processor and a low-power consumption application processor to share processor functions. The high-power consumption application processor may carry out functions related to the user interface of the device, signaling and control path. The low-power consumption application processor may implement IP processing, voice signal processing and video signal processing.

Abstract: A method for making a polystyrene ionomer comprises: preparing a metallic comonomer within styrene monomer to form a reaction mixture; and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for the formation of a polymer composition. The metallic comonomer can be a metal acrylate, formed by contacting a metal complex and an acrylate precursor.

Abstract: A molded part having a predetermined shape is provided. The molded part may be formed by casting a liquid crystalline polymer composition into a mold cavity at a relatively low shear rate. Due to the use of a relatively low shear rate, the polymer composition does not generally undergo extensive shear orientation, which can allow the resulting part to be further processed using standard finishing techniques. The ability to use relatively low shear rates during casting is achieved in the present invention through the use of an aromatic amide oligomer. More particularly, the present inventors have discovered that the aromatic amide oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix to “ultralow” levels without having a significant impact on the mechanical properties.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline polymer composition that contains a liquid crystalline polymer and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear. The oligomer is also not easily volatized or decomposed during compounding, molding, and/or use, which minimizes off-gassing and the formation of blisters that would otherwise impact the final mechanical properties of a part made from the polymer composition. While providing the benefits noted, the aromatic amide oligomer does not generally react with the polymer backbone of the liquid crystalline polymer to any appreciable extent so that the mechanical properties of the polymer are not adversely impacted.

Abstract: A method for lowering melt viscosity of a liquid crystalline polymer as it is formed in a reactor vessel. More particularly, a reaction mixture is initially supplied to the reactor vessel that contains two or more precursor monomers (e.g., acetylated or non-acetylated). The reaction mixture is heated to an elevated temperature under agitation to initiate formation of the polymer. After a certain period of time, an aromatic amide oligomer is added to the reaction mixture. Among other things, the present inventors have discovered that such an oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear. This minimizes the likelihood of “freeze off” of the polymer within the reactor vessel and limits the impact of process disruptions on the production of the liquid crystalline polymer.

Abstract: A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer composition capable of exhibiting both a low melting temperature and good heat resistance without the use of conventional naphthenic acids is provided. The melting temperature may, for example, range from about 250° C. to about 400° C. Even at such low melting temperatures, the present inventors have surprisingly discovered that the ratio of the deflection temperature under load (“DTUL”), a measure of short term heat resistance, to the melting temperature may remain relatively high. The specific DTUL values may range from about 200° C. to about 300° C. The ability to form a polymer composition with the properties noted above may be achieved, at least in part, by the use of an aromatic amide oligomer.

Abstract: A method for forming a high molecular weight thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is provided. The method includes melt polymerizing two or more monomers in the presence of a unique aromatic amide oligomer to form a prepolymer, and then solid-state polymerizing the prepolymer to achieve a target molecular weight. The present inventors have discovered that a unique aromatic amide oligomer can be employed to help increase the “low shear” complex viscosity of the resulting solid-state polymerized composition. This allows for the attainment of higher than conventional “low shear” complex viscosity values and/or a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a target complex viscosity. In addition, the oligomeric flow aid can also accelerate the extent to which the “high shear” melt viscosity is increased during solid-state polymerization, which may also contribute to a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a certain molecular weight.

Abstract: A melt-extruded substrate that can be readily thermoformed into a shaped, three-dimensional article is provided. The substrate is formed from a polymer composition that contains a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a unique aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that the oligomer can help increase the “low shear” complex viscosity of the resulting polymer. The ability to achieve enhanced low shear viscosity values can lead to polymer compositions with an increased melt strength, which allows the resulting substrate to better maintain its shape during thermoforming without exhibiting a substantial amount of sag. Due to its relatively high degree of melt strength, the polymer composition is particularly well suited for forming thin extruded substrates for use in thermoforming processes.

Abstract: A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer melt polymerized in the presence of a viscosity modifier that can help increase the “low shear” viscosity of the resulting composition is provided. The increased “low shear” viscosity can minimize drooling of the polymer composition during processing and also allow it to possess a greater melt strength, which facilitates its ability to be processed in a wide variety of applications without losing its physical integrity. Despite having a relatively high “low shear” viscosity, the present inventors have discovered that the viscosity modifier does not substantially increase the “high shear” melt viscosity of the polymer composition. In this regard, the ratio of the “low shear” viscosity to the melt viscosity is generally very high, such as within a range of from about 50 to about 1000.