High temperature liquid crystalline copolyester composites. Part I: A review and new data for the self‐reinforced matrix phase

Abstract Our work concerns structure‐processing‐morphology‐property (SPMP) relationships in fibrous composites where the polymeric matrix may be self‐reinforced. Composites have been made using a commerically available thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) with nematic and isotropic transitions at 693 and 738 K, respectively. To understand the behavior of such composites one must first understand the composite nature of the matrix resin. Thus, this article covers the SPMP relationships for the self‐reinforced matrix phase alone. A review and new data are presented on the molecular dynamics of wholly aromatic copolyesters in the solid state to help clarify the nature of the temperature dependence of mechanical properties. Subsequent papers concern short (Part II) and continuous (Part III) fiber reinforced composites.