Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the synthesis of phosphorus based polymer networks by thermal or photopolymerizaton of primary phosphines with olefins which exhibit tunable oxidative and mechanical properties. The method involves mixing a polymerizaton initiator with a phosphine and an olefin to produce a mixture and exposing the mixture to any one or combination of light, electron beam, or heat to induce polymerizaton of the primary phosphines with the olefins wherein the reactivity of the primary phosphines results in the production of polymers containing P—C bonds. When the olefin is a flexible alkene, upon polymerizaton a polymer network is produced which is less rigid than a polymer network produced using a rigid alkene. If a rigid alkene is used, upon polymerizaton a polymer network is produced that is firmer than a polymer network produced using a flexible alkene. In this way the physical properties of the polymers containing P—C bonds is tunable.