Strengthening of highly heat-resistant liquid-crystal polymer fibers upon heat treatment

Fibers of fully aromatic thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers containing mesogenic groups in the backbone are prepared on laboratory machines that make it possible to vary the conditions of jet spinning and subsequent heat treatment. The thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer fibers are investigated using differential thermal and thermomechanical analyses and strength measurements. It is found that, after spinning under optimum conditions, the strength of the fibers at room temperature is approximately equal to 1 GPa. After heat treatment under specially chosen conditions, the strength increases by a factor of two or three due to an increase in the activation energy of fracture. The role of crystallization and cross-linking in strengthening of liquid-crystal polymer fibers is elucidated.