Thermotropic, wholly aromatic polythiolesters capable of forming an anisotropic melt and a process for preparing the polythiolesters

摘要

Thermotropic, wholly aromatic polythiolesters exhibit an anisotropic melt. The polythiolesters may be prepared from monomers selected such that all or substantially all of the repeating groups are thiolester groups. Alternatively, the monomers can be selected such that sufficient thiolester groups are present to impart processability to a normally non-tractable polyester. Preparation of the polythiolesters is typically accomplished by melt polymerization of an esterified aromatic mercaptan compound, either alone or with other copolymerizable monomers. The polythiolesters may be melt processed into fibers, films or other types of shaped articles.