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Abstract
Examination of the rheological properties of blends of polyethersulphone (PES) and a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) has shown an approximately fourfold drop in viscosity at low shear rates for the addition of only 2% LCP. Optical microscopy of sections of extruded pellets (cut parallel and perpendicular to the extrusion axis) has been carried out. It is found that the LCP orientation varies significantly across the pellet. When the thin sections are annealed at temperatures∼300° C the LCP tries to minimise interfacial contact with the PES suggesting a high surface energy.