Liquid Crystalline Polymers as Tunable Composite Resins for Composites Applications

The work presented in this Thesis describes the use of reactive all aromatic liquid crystalline thermosetting resins for fiber reinforced composite applications. One of the challenges associated with reactive LC thermoplastic resins is that the melting temperature ( T k lc ) is typically close to or above the decomposition temperature. In order to improve the melt processing characteristics of reactive liquid crystal resins, but without compromising the after cure (thermo)mechanical properties, two synthetic approaches have been explored: 1-control of the polymer molecular weight by using phenylethynyl reactive end groups and 2- by introducing non linear co monomers.