Titan Liquid crystalline polymer

In 1972, Cottis and coworkers at Carborundum patented wholly aromatic polyesters based on p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), A,A -dihydrox-ybiphenyl (DHB), and terephthalic acid (TPA), one of which was later commercialized as EKKCEL 1-2000 [1]. In 1974, Kuhfuss and coworkers at Eastman Kodak reported a new polyester based on HBA and polyfethylene terephthalate) (PET), which was later marketed under the code of X-7G. X-7G is the first thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer to be fabricated by injection molding or melt spinning [2]. However, then Eastman Kodak withdrew its plan of marketing of X-7G and changed the target with a wholly aromatic polyester commercialized as TITAN (THERMX ) in 1996. As described later, it was acquired by DuPont in 2003. 

Eastman Chemicals, based in the USA, is now the world s fourth largest producer of liquid crystal polymers. Eastman opened a 3,000 tpa plant at Tennessee, USA, in 2001. However, in March 2003, it was announced that DuPont Engineering Polymers has acquired Eastman Chemical s high-performance crystalline plastics business. The deal covers Eastman s Titan liquid crystal polymers, Thermx PCT and Thermx EG series. Under the agreement, DuPont is buying the technology rights... 

Tjong, S. C. and Meng, Y. Z. 1999. Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of compatibilized polypropylene hybrid composites containing potassium titanate whisker and liquid crystalline copolyester. Polymer 40 7275-7281. 

According to Ref. [49] two commercial random copolyesters. Titan and Zenith 6000, were obtained from the Eastman and DuPont Chemical companies, respectively. These LCP have very narrow time and temperature intervals between the beginning of crystal melting and the onset of polymer degradation, where the liquid crystalline phase exists. The existence of multidomains in these commercial thermotropic LCPs has not been reported, and because of short time processing, it seems to be improbable. 

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