Barrier properties of injection molded blends of liquid crystalline polyesters (Vectra) and high-density polyethylene

Blends of an extrusion-grade high-density polyethylene and two liquid crystalline copolyesters (LCP; Vectra A950 and Vectra RD501) were prepared by melt mixing and injection molding, and the. morphologies and oxygen permeabilities of the blends were assessed. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the LCP was present in the blends as mixed oriented bands and small spheres at low LCP contents (4-9 vol%), Whereas blends with more than 18 vol% LCP showed LCP lamellae of macroscopic lateral size (mm). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a two-dimensional continuity of the LCP domains in the disc plane due to radial shear deformation and circumferential stretching of the melt leaving the central gate of the disc-shaped cavity. The oxygen permeability, diffusivity and solubility decreased with increasing LCP content of the blends. The decrease in permeability with respect to polyethylene was significant (46%-55%) already at 9 vol% LCP. At 27 vol% LCP, the decrease with respect to polyethylene, was 92% for the Vectra A950 blend and 98% for the Vectra RD501 blend. These blends showed a greater decrease in diffusivity (86%-92%) than in solubility (39%-76%) with respect to polyethylene, which showed the very pronounced effect of the LCP lamellae on the geometrical impedance factor. Microvoids were present in all the blends despite the use of a very high injection pressure (180 MPa) but their impact on the oxygen permeability was negligible for the Vectra. RD501 blends and relatively small for the Vectra A950 blends.