Polymerization through Coordination

The chief purpose of the work described in this report has been to prepare plastics which are stable to high temperatures, and which retain their plasticity over a wide temperature range. It is well known that the stability of organic materials is often markedly changed by coordination with metal ions. Sometimes it is decreased, but often it is increased. This is illustrated by the great difference in thermal stability between phthalocyanine and its copper derivative, and by the increased resistance to light and washing which is shown by azo dyes when they are metallized. This program is based upon the hope that coordination polymers can be formed which will show desirable physical properties, and which will be resistant to thermal and oxidative degradation.