What is "inorganic polymer"

n. (context inorganic chemistry English) Any giant molecule linked by covalent bonds, but having no (or few) carbon atoms in the main molecular backbone.

Inorganic polymers are polymers with a skeletal structure that does not include carbon atoms. Polymers containing inorganic and organic components are named hybrid polymers. One of the best known examples is polydimethylsiloxane, otherwise known commonly as silicone rubber. It has a repeat unit based on silicon and oxygen:

—[O-Si(CH)]—

Silicon and oxygen also occur widely in a range of inorganic minerals, including silica, mica and feldspar with other elements.

The inorganic sulfur- nitrogen polymer polythiazyl, (SN), is, highly unusual, a metallic superconducting polymer below 0.26 K.

Inorganic polymers with tunable or responsive properties are called smart inorganic polymers. A special class of inorganic polymers are geopolymers which my be anthropogenic or naturally occurring.