US Patent 9057016 Melt polymerization of low melt viscosity liquid crystalline polymers

A method for forming a high molecular weight liquid crystalline polymer is provided. The method include melt polymerizing two or more precursor monomers (e.g., acetylated or non-acetylated) in the presence of an aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that such an oligomer can lower the melt viscosity of the viscous polymer as it is formed. The ability to lower melt viscosity in situ during melt polymerization enables the formation of high molecular weight polymers that display low melt viscosity and can still be removed from the reactor vessel without solidifying therein. This not only improves the ease of processing, but also allows molecular weights to be reached that are even higher than conventionally practical.