MEMBERS HAVING A MULTIAXIALLY ORIENTED COATING OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SUCH MEMBERS

Coatings of multiaxially oriented Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer (TLCP) are provided to elongated members. Suitable members include glass rod s, glass fibers, pipes, beams, and other oval or polygonal members having an essentially regular cross section. Members of ceramic, plastic, or metal can also be coated. This extrusion is performed using a die having inner and out er mandrels capable of rotating in opposite directions. Concentricity between inner and outer mandrels of the die is maintained to assure uniform coating thickness. In order to produce a high level of multiaxial orientation at low er die rotational speeds, the die design may include spiraling feed zones on on e or both facing surfaces of the inner and outer mandrels. The application of the multiaxially oriented coating provides superior impermeability to water vapor and oxygen, and increased strength to the elongated member in the axia l direction.