METAL POLYMERS - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF METAL POLY(STYRENE-CO-4-METHYLSTYRENE) COPOLYMERS WITH BENZOYL PEROXIDE .11.

Styrene-co-4-methylstyrene (S-4-MeS) colloids were obtained by coconde nsation at 77 K of the monomers with several metals such as: Pd, Au, A g, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Sb and Bi. Au, Ga and Ge colloids are stabl e for months at room temperature. The colloids of these comonomers wer e polymerized with different amounts of initiator benzoyl peroxide (BP O) at 65 degrees C for 3 h, and a wide range of viscosity average mole cular weights (($) over bar Mv 10(3)-10(5)) were obtained depending up on the metal used. Transmission electron microscopy showed clusters of spherical shapes in the comonomer dispersions. The particle size of t hese clusters displaced in the polymer is around 100 Angstrom. The met al comonomer colloid concentration and stability at room temperature a re reported. the thermal stability and metal incorporation are also de scribed. The polymers are stable over 350 degrees C with decomposition temperatures around 400 degrees C. The metal content in the polymers is ranging form 0.05 to 0.77%. The color of the polymers depends upon the metal used, e.g. In-(S-4-MeS) is black and Au-(S-4-Me) is purple.