Metallbindare

Metallbindare is a Swedish term meaning a substance, molecule, or material capable of binding metal ions or metal particles. It is used across several scientific disciplines with related but distinct meanings.

In coordination chemistry, a metallbindare or metal-binding ligand binds to a metal center through electron-pair donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Such ligands can form monodentate or polydentate (chelating) complexes, and the strength of the binding is often described by stability constants. Common examples include EDTA, ethylenediamine, porphyrins, and amino acid residues such as histidine in proteins.

In biochemistry and biomedicine, metallbindare motifs are found in metalloproteins and metalloenzymes, where metal ions play essential catalytic or structural roles. Metallochaperones and siderophores are biological examples of metal-binding agents that transport or sequester metals like iron. Zinc-finger domains and other metal-binding motifs illustrate the role of specific ligands in regulating protein function.

In materials engineering and metallurgy, metallbindare can refer to binders used to hold metal powders or nanoparticles together in composites or during sintering. Common binders include organic polymers (such as polyvinyl alcohol and acrylic resins), waxes, and adhesives. Their purpose is to provide green strength during processing and to be removed or transformed during subsequent heat treatments.

The term is context-dependent, and related concepts include ligand, chelator, complexing agent, and binder.