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Introduction to
INORGANIC POLYMERS
:By
Mohammad Barkhi
What is a Polymer ?
A polymer is a substance composed of
molecules with large molecular mass
composed of repeating structural units, or
monomers, connected by covalent chemical
bonds. The term is derived from the Greek
words: polys meaning many, and meros
meaning parts.
Classification schemes
Inorganic polymers represent a rapidly growing
field of chemical research and already have many
applications and any classification is necessarily
somewhat arbitrary.
N. H. Ray, in his book on inorganic polymers(1978),
uses connectivity as a method of classifying
inorganic polymers.
The other classifying will be introduced
in the following:
- wholly inorganic polymers
- inorganic-organic polymers
- organometallic polymers
- hybrid organic-inorganic polymers
Classification by
connectivities
Ray defines connectivity as the number of atoms
attached to a defined atom that are a part of the
polymer chain or matrix. This polymer connectivity
can range from 1 for a side group atom or functional
group to at least 8 or 10 in some metal-coordination
and metal-cyclopentadienyl polymers, respectively.
Connectivities of 1
Anchored metal-containing polymers used for
catalysis can have connectivity values as low as 1
with respect to the polymer chain.
Connectivities of 2
c
: Examples of inorganic polymeric species with connectivity of 2
poly-)sulfur nitride(; )b( linear polyphosphate; )c( poly)dichlorophosphazene(( a)
Connectivities of 3
Connectivities of 4
Connectivities of 6
Connectivities of 8
Inorganic-organic Polymers
inorganic polymers containing organic portions
attached to inorganic elements in their backbone. The
area of inorganic-organic polymers is very extensive.
Some examples of this class are: Polysilanes,
Polysiloxanes, Polyphosphazenes.
Organometallic Polymers
Organometallic polymers are made of over 40
elements including main group of metals )Si or Ge(,
transition metals or rare earth elements in addition to the
10 elements )C, H, N, O, B, P, halides( which is found in
organic polymers )Figure 10(.The variations of
organometallic polymers seem endless. Organometallic
polymers are new materials which combine the low
density and structural variations and functional group
varieties of organic materials with electrical conductivity
and the high temperature stability features of inorganic
compounds.
INORGANIC
POLYMERS
SYNTHESIS
APPLICATIONS
OF
INORGANIC POLYMERS
Poly (sulphur nitride) is the first reportednonmetallic covalent polymer, with electronic conductivity
properties comparable to that of metal, and is the first
example of a polymeric superconductor.
It is used as conductive material in the manufacturing
of a plasma display panel and in electrically
conductive plastic light sources such as batterypowered flash lights and lanterns. Battery housing or
head assemblies for light sources are formed from
electrically conductive polymers such as poly)sulphur
nitride(.
EPILOGUE
Numerous uses for inorganic polymers have been developed. For
many of these uses, the inorganic polymers have advantages over
their organic counterparts, but often relatively high cost has
precluded the use of the inorganic polymers, except where the cost
differential is less than the advantage perceived for the polymer. As
simpler synthetic methods and larger scale use occur, the differential
will diminish and more uses will flourish. For some uses where no
organic counterpart is satisfactory, the inorganic polymers have
been accepted.
Inorganic polymers will undoubtedly be featured in future high-tech
nanoscale materials, where cost may be less of a factor.
Thus the ultimate fate of inorganic polymers rests on future
practitioners in the field and the uses for which the polymers are
found to be superior over their organic counterparts. If recent
developments are a guide to the future, the future for inorganic
polymers is very bright indeed.
:Acknowledgement
Dr. Mohammad. R. Melardi; Dep. Of Chem. Karaj I.A.U.
Dr. Fariba Shokrolahi; Iranian Polymer & Petrochemical
Institute.
:Refrences
INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS; RONALD D.
ARCHER; A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publication
Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers: A Review; Azam
.Rahimi; Iranian Polymer Journal 13 )2(, 2004, 149-164
Bianconi et al; Macromolecules,1989, 22, 1697; 1989 American
Chemical Society.
E.C. Buruiana et al. / Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology
A: Chemistry 171 )2005( 261267