Liquid crystal polymers. IX. Copolyesters of trans-4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-butanediol,and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

Copolyesters of trans-4,4-stilbenedicarboxylic acid (SDA), terephthalic acid, and 1,4-butanediol exhibit thermotropic liquid crystallinity if at least 40 mol % SDA is present (acids total 100 mol %); SDA/2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid/1,4-butanediol copolyesters are liquid crystalline if at least 30 mol % SDA is present. The effects of SDA content on the thermal, rheological, plastic, and fiber properties of the copolyesters were determined. The SDA component increases the relaxation times of the polymers and enables injection-molded plastics and melt-spun fibers to have significantly increased tensile strength and stiffness.