DECOMPOSITION OF IRON CARBONYLS IN SOLID POLYMER MATRICES: PREPARATION OF NOVEL METAL-POLYMER COMPOSITES.

The aim of this study was the synthesis and characterization of polymer composites in which microscopic metal or metal oxide particles were incorporated by thermal or photolytic decompositions of solid solutions of organometallic complexes in polymers. In contrast to conventional composites or filled polymer compositions, which are prepared by dispersion of particles or fibers in a polymer matrix, this study has typically involved the preparation of metal carbonyl solid solutions in polymers and the phase separation decomposition of the organometallic complex to form uniform metal or metal oxide dispersions of very small particle size (50-500A).