A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) with an alkyl side-group was synthesized. Blends of the LCP with polycarbonate (PC) were prepared by coprecipitation from a common solvent. The rheological behavior of the LCP/PC blends was found to be very different from that of PC, and significant viscosity reductions were observed in the temperature range of 200-230°C. Blends of different LCP compositions were extruded with different draw ratio from a capillary rheometer. The ultimate tensile strength showed a maximum at a 10 wt% LCP composition in the blends. It decreased for compositions greater the 10 wt% LCP, whereas the initial modulus increased with increasing LCP content. The morphology of the blends was found to be affected by their compositions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed finely dispersed spherical LCP domains in the PC matrix. The SEM micrographs also showed a poor adhesion between the two phases.

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