Formation of Polymer Composite Materials in the Presence of Solid Acids and Bases

As noted in the previous chapters, the formation of polymers in the presence of acidic and basic fillers is determined by the adsorption character of the acid-base interaction within the compositions. When a filler — a solid acid or base, is introduced into a ready prepared polymer (basic or acidic, respectively), the polymer structure and properties may vary as a result of the adsorption interaction. These fillers affect the polymer more significantly when they are introduced during the stage of polymer formation, i.e. before the accomplishment of polymerization or polycondensation. Thus, they modify not only polymer structure and properties but also kinetics, thermodynamics and polymerization mechanism. The numerous published data show that solid acids and bases behave as effective catalysts of polymerization and polycondensation.