ABSTRACT
Just as polymers abound in the world of organics, they also abound in the world of inorganics.
Inorganic polymers are the major components of soil, mountains, and sand. They are also
extensively employed as abrasives and cutting materials (diamond, boron carbide, silicon
carbide [carborundum], aluminum oxide), coatings, flame retardants, building and construc-
tion materials (window glass, stone, Portland cement, brick, tiles), and lubricants and cata-
lysts (zinc oxide, nickel oxide, carbon black, graphite, silica gel, alumina, aluminum silicate,
chromium oxides, clays).
