Inorganic polymer

<p>In <a href="/facts/Polymer_chemistry/wdfr6fs4">polymer chemistry</a>, an inorganic polymer is a <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a> with a <a href="/facts/Skeletal_structure/RFcmIenv">skeletal structure</a> that does not include <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> atoms in the <a href="/facts/Polymer_backbone/9Q3so597">backbone</a>. Polymers containing <a href="/facts/Inorganic_compound/TfFfzxSz">inorganic</a> and <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic</a> components are sometimes called hybrid polymers, and most so-called inorganic polymers are hybrid polymers. One of the best known examples is <a href="/facts/Polydimethylsiloxane/2lPYh00F">polydimethylsiloxane</a>, otherwise known commonly as <a href="/facts/Silicone_rubber/3XMpD7m9">silicone rubber</a>. Inorganic polymers offer some properties not found in organic materials including low-temperature flexibility, <a href="/facts/Electrical_conductivity/akyCKvMy">electrical conductivity</a>, and <a href="/facts/Combustibility_and_flammability/1QexTQ4T">nonflammability</a>.  The term <i>inorganic polymer</i> refers generally to one-dimensional polymers, rather than to heavily <a href="/facts/Crosslinked/zeQ9hEAA">crosslinked</a> materials such as <a href="/facts/Silicate_minerals/WclrQW2I">silicate minerals</a>. Inorganic polymers with tunable or responsive properties are sometimes called <a href="/facts/Smart_inorganic_polymers/flJGP1ca">smart inorganic polymers</a>. A special class of inorganic polymers are <a href="/facts/Geopolymer/Rf8xuvHD">geopolymers</a>, which may be anthropogenic or naturally occurring.
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Inorganic polymer open-in-new

Inorganic polymer