ABSTRACT
The morphologies in a variety of diglycidyl ether of 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene-based liquid crystalline epoxy (LCE) formulations have been studied as matrices for high performance composites. Both the micrometer-scale and nanometer-scale LCE morphologies in infusion molded, uni-weave graphite fiber composites were investigated using reflected light optical microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggest that, depending on the cure schedule and the LCE curative composition, the matrix morphologies in LCE composite can become very different. It is possible to achieve preferred molecular orientation along the graphite fibers if the LCE resin is slowly cured and has a high concentration of mesogenic segments.
