Polymer strands with various draw ratios of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(LCP) and modified poly(phenylene oxide) were prepared by drawing the melts leaving aslit die in open air. The morphology

structure and mechanical properties of the resultingstrands were studied as a function of LCP content and draw ratio. It was found that thethermal and mechanical properties of the matrix phase did not change dramatically withthe amount of LCP and draw ratio

but the orientation of LCP phase could be increased with draw ratio.The mechanical properties of the strands could be improved by moderately drawing the melts.Wide angle X-ray diffraction suggested that the improvement in tensile strength of the strands was due to the resyltant fibrillation of LCP phase and enhanced molecular orientation.Morpholohical observation indicated that excessive drawing of the strands could lead to the break down of the microfibrils of LCP and thus resulted in the dcrease of mechanical strength.