Tailored Design of New Polyphosphazenes with Special Properties

Polymers that contain heteroelements such as phosphorus and nitrogen in the skeletal structure offer a means for extending the properties normally associated with synthetic macromolecules into areas hitherto typical of inorganic materials such as ceramics, metals, or electroactive or electro-optical solids. The polymeric molecular structure provides materials strength and flexibility, while the heteroelements provide flame resistance, radiation resistance, and access to new reactions for the linkage of electroactive or biologically interesting units to the polymer structure. In this paper synthetic pathways that provide access to such polymers are described, together with a review of structure-property relationships that provide a high level of molecular and materials design.