Novel functionalized polystyrenes having groups such as epichlorohydrin, epoxy, acetyl, C=C double bond, and carboxyl were synthesized by the reaction of polystyrene with epichlorohydrin, unsaturated hydrocarbons, and organic anhydrides in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts. The adhesioncapability and corrosion resistance of the new synthesized functionalized polystyrenes to metals under various conditions were investigated. A very good relationship was observed between the quantity of functional groups bonded to the aromatic rings of the polystyrenes and the adhesion andcorrosion resistance properties of the polyfunctionalized polystyrenes. It was also observed that the new polyfunctionalized polystyrenes obtained by chemical modification with maleic anhydride, acetic anhydride, isoprene, butadiene, and epichlorohydrin in the presence of cationic catalystsresulted in high adhesion and anti-corrosion properties. © VSP 1998.