Abstract :
In this paper, we demonstrate that laser vaporization of metals in the presence of a small concentration of butadiene vapor
leads to the polymerization of butadiene and incorporation of the metal nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. The metal
nanocomposites are characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and EDX. The results from high pressure mass
spectrometry indicate that multiple additions of butadiene molecules on the metal cations Fe+, Ni+ and Pt+, generated by laser
vaporization, take place at room temperature thus providing an efficient means of initiating further polymerization reactions.
The Pt+ reactions show extensive fragmentations and elimination steps generating hydrocarbon ions. The laser vaporization/
polymerization method provides the ability to encapsulate several different metals or metal oxides which undoubtedly will play
a significant role in tuning the various properties of the polymer composites.
