A phosphorus‐containing thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyester with low mesophase temperature and high flame retardance

Abstract A novel phosphorus‐containing thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyester with flexible spacers (P‐TLCP‐FS) was synthesized by melt transesterification from p ‐acetoxybenzoic acid ( p ‐ABA), terephthalic acid (TPA), ethylene glycol, and acetylated 2‐(6‐oxid‐6H‐dibenz(c,e) (1,2) oxaphosphorin 6‐yl) 1,4‐benzenediol (AODOPB). The chemical structure and properties of the obtained P‐TLCP‐FS were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H‐NMR), inherent viscosity measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA), polarizing light microscopy (PLM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. P‐TLCP‐FS had inherent viscosities of 0.92–1.12 dL/g and exhibited low and wide mesophase temperatures, ranging from 185 to 330 °C, which can match with the processing temperatures of most conventional polymers and high flame retardancy with a limiting oxygen index value of 70% and UL‐94 V‐0 rating. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5752–5759, 2008