Fiber-reinforced terephthalate-co-4,4′-bibenzoate copolyester behaves like a liquid crystalline polymer, providing fast crystallization, short cycling times, high T.sub.g and T.sub.m, high strength and stiffness, while the viscosity is unexpectedly reduced at a low fiber loading ratio. In an injection molding process, the viscosity of the fiber reinforced copolyester at low fiber loading is reduced by increasing the fiber loading.

The present invention provides an efficient and cost-effective process to recover highly purified PHA homopolymers and copolymers, producing novel sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials derived from cellular biomass that are crystal competent. Such resulting materials (e.g., melt-derived solids and crystalline agglomerates), as well as methods of production of the sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials and subsequent processing, demonstrate cost-effective production of PHA polymer at commercial scale, which is heretofore not been achievable. Moreover, the methods and materials produced make feasible the long-awaited achievement in the industry for competitive commercialization of PHA homopolymers and copolymers from cellular biomass.

Provided are a laminate, a circuit board, and a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film comprised therein. The laminate comprises a metal foil and an LCP film. The LCP film in the laminate has a dissipation factor before water absorption (Df′.sub.0), a dissipation factor after water absorption (Df′.sub.1), and a relative percentage difference between dissipation factors (ΔDf′), which is calculated by the following equation: $\Delta {\mathrm{Df}}^{\prime }\left(\%\right)=\frac{.Math.{\mathrm{Df}}_1^{\prime }-{\mathrm{Df}}_0^{\prime }.Math.}{{\mathrm{Df}}_0^{\prime }}\times 100\%;$
wherein ΔDf′ may be less than or equal to 16%. By controlling ΔDf′ of the LCP film in the laminate, the insertion loss of a circuit board comprising a laminate during signal transmission in low-, medium-, and/or high-frequency bands is decreased and/or inhibited. In addition, the difference between the insertion losses of signal transmission before and after water absorption is decreased, so the laminate is suitable for high-end or outdoor high-frequency electronic products.

The invention pertains to a Liquid Crystalline Polyester (LCP) and thermoplastic compositions comprising such LCP, exhibiting low dielectric constant and dissipation factors and being suitable for mobile electronic device components, for example films or structural components.

Described herein are polymer compositions including at least 20 wt. % of a liquid crystal polymer (“LCP”); 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a flat glass fiber and 15 wt. % to 50 wt. % of boron nitride and/or zinc oxide. It was surprisingly discovered that polymer compositions including an LCP in conjunction with a combination of flat glass fibers and boron nitride and/or zinc oxide had improved thermal conductivity and flexural properties, relative to analogous polymer compositions having round glass fibers in place of the flat glass fibers.

A semi-crystalline thiourethane polymer. The semi-crystalline thiourethane polymer comprises a sequential chain of a first type of monomer covalently bonded to a second type of monomer via thiourethane linkages. Each of the first type of monomer includes two or more thiol functional groups and each of the second type of monomer includes two or more isocyanate functional groups. The first and second types of monomers are polymerized together in an anionic step-growth polymerization reaction that is catalyzed by a non-nucleophillic base having a pKa greater than 7, produced by photo-initiated decomposition of a photolatent base. A method of synthesizing, and polymer jetting and stereolithography methods of manufacturing a polymer part, are also disclosed.

Described herein are thermoplastic composites including a polymer matrix, having an aliphatic polyamide, and at least one continuous reinforcing fiber. Aliphatic polyamides are well suited for the matrix polymer of a thermoplastic composite due to the low viscosity of the polyamide in the melt state enabling impregnation of the fibers. Additionally, the thermal stability of aliphatic polyamides in the melt state allows for ease of consolidation and lamination of the composite fabrics or tapes. The thermoplastic composite having an aliphatic polyamide provides for enhanced strength and stiffness compared to short, discontinuous fiber compounds. Additionally, the thermoplastics composites based on aliphatic polyamides are formable, drapable and, due to the low processing and melting temperature of the polymer matrix, can be injection overmolded with a variety of short fiber compounds.

Provided are an LCP film and a laminate comprising the same. The LCP film is made of an LCP resin comprising a structural unit represented by Formula (1): -L.sub.1-Ar-L.sub.2- (1), wherein -L.sub.1- and -L.sub.2- are respectively —O— or —CO—; —Ar— is an arylene group. Formula (1) comprises structural units

##STR00001##

Based on a total molar number of the structural unit represented by Formula (1), a molar number of the structural unit represented by Formula (I) is in the range from 15 mole % to 40 mole %, and a sum of molar numbers of the structural units represented by Formulae (I) and (II) is in the range from 80 mole % to 100 mole %. The LCP film has a thickness and a transmittance, wherein when values of the thickness (in μm) and the transmittance are put into Formula (III), the obtained value is from 0.055 to 0.090. Formula (III): Log(1/TT %)/(Thickness).sup.0.5.

Provided are a laminate, a circuit board, and a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film comprised therein. The laminate comprises a metal foil and an LCP film. The LCP film in the laminate has a dissipation factor before water absorption (Df′.sub.0), a dissipation factor after water absorption (Df′.sub.1), and a relative percentage difference between dissipation factors (ΔDf′), which is calculated by the following equation:

[00001]$\Delta .Math.D.Math.f^{\prime }.Math..Math.\left(\%\right)=\frac{.Math.{\mathrm{Df}}_1^{\prime }-D.Math.f_0^{\prime }.Math.}{D.Math.f_0^{\prime }}\times 1.Math.00.Math.\%;$

wherein ΔDf′ may be less than or equal to 16%.

By controlling ΔDf′ of the LCP film in the laminate, the insertion loss of a circuit board comprising a laminate during signal transmission in low-, medium-, and/or high-frequency bands is decreased and/or inhibited. In addition, the difference between the insertion losses of signal transmission before and after water absorption is decreased, so the laminate is suitable for high-end or outdoor high-frequency electronic products.

Provided are a liquid crystal polymer film (LCP film) and a laminate comprising the same. The LCP film has a first surface and a second surface opposite each other, and the first surface has an arithmetical mean height of a surface (Sa) less than 0.32 μm. The LCP film with proper Sa is suitable to be stacked with a metal foil, such that a laminate comprising the LCP film can have an advantage of low insertion loss.