Magnetic metal‐polymer composites: Thermal and oxidative decomposition of Fe(CO)₅ and CO₂ (CO)₈ in a poly (vinylidene fluoride) matrix

The aim of this study is the synthesis and characterization of polymer composites in which microscopic metal or metal oxide particles are incorporated by thermal or photolytic decomposition in 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 polymeric matrix, this study typically involves 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. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to monitor the rate of the in situ decomposition of the organometallic moiety in the polymer matrix. Moreover, this technique is very important in determining the changes that occur on the polymer chains due to metal‐polymer interactions. Electron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies are used to determine the nature, shape, and size of the particles formed by the decomposition of the organometallic complex within the polymer matrix. Finally, a general scheme of possible mechanisms involving metal–polymer interactions is presented.