Abstract

Styrene-co-4-methylstyrene (S-4-MeS) colloids were obtained by cocondensation at 77 K of the monomers with several metals such as: Pd, Au, Ag, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Sb and Bi. Au, Ga and Ge colloids are stable for months at room temperature. The colloids of these comonomers were polymerized with different amounts of initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) at 65°C for 3 h, and a wide range of viscosity average molecular weights ( M¯v 103–105) were obtained depending upon the metal used. Transmission electron microscopy showed clusters of spherical shapes in the comonomer dispersions. The particle size of these clusters displaced in the polymer is around 100 Å. The metal comonomer colloid concentration and stability at room temperature are reported. The thermal stability and metal incorporation are also described. The polymers are stable over 350°C with decomposition temperatures around 400°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.