Radiation-Induced Synthesis of Polymers on the Basis of Elemental Phosphorus

Abstract

The use of red phosphorus in different branches of industry (synthesis of materials for electronics, nonferrous metallurgy, production of flame retardants for polymers, defense applications, and precursors in the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds) specifies the search for the simple and easily controlled processes of the synthesis of this polymer of elemental phosphorus with the predictable properties. The studies of the radiation-induced synthesis of the polymers based on the elemental phosphorus have been carried out. The use of methods of radiation chemistry made it possible to solve a number of problems, traditional in the synthesis of the red phosphorus. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the process and those of the end products obtained are discussed.

Keywords:

• Phosphorus
• polymers
• radiation

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the President of Russian Federation Programme “Support of Scientific Schools”, grant 5305.2006.3, for the financial support; The author expresses sincere gratitude to colleagues, graduate and PhD students of the Institute of Chemistry and Problems of Sustainable Development, D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, for their help in conducting experiments and discussing the results.