Metallopolymers

The formation of highly disperse metal particles in a polymer medium is accompanied by the chemisorption interaction of their freshly formed surfaces with the polymer macromolecules. Such systems have several advantages over ordinary filled polymers, and have been termed "metallopolymers". Several methods of obtaining such systems – electrolytic, electroflotation, thermal, and mechanochemical – are surveyed. The nature and the mechanism of interaction between the surfaces of various metals and organic (also organosilicon) polymers are described in detail. The physicochemical properties of metallopolymers and possible fields of their application are discussed. A list of 175 references is included.