Poly(vinylphosphonic acid) and its derivatives

Due to a steady increase in daily life of the need for innovative products, new materials suitable to meet these requirements have to be developed. Poly(vinylphosphonic acid) and its derivatives, poly(vinylphosphonates) and poly(vinylphosphine oxides), have been developed as functional synthetic polymers and gained importance in the polymer applications. Homopolymers of vinylphosphonic acid and its copolymers show interesting properties, given by the presence of acidic functionality. The aim of this paper is to present an overview on the synthesis and applications of vinyl polymers containing functional phosphorus moieties and to emphasize their special properties.