REACTIONS OF POLYMERS

ADDITION POLYMERIZATION

• A chemical process in which monomers with multiple bonds are joined together by covalent bond to form larger molecule without the loss of a small molecule.
• Also called Chain-Growth Polymerization.
• Reactive intermediates at chain end and initiator is needed in this reaction.
• Some of the examples :

• Mechanism involved :

CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION

•  A chemical process in which two monomers joined together to form larger molecule and eliminate smaller molecule such as H2O, HCL or alcohols (methanol).
• Also called Step-Growth Polymerization.
• One of the example :

Mechanism involved :

COMPARISON BETWEEN ADDITION (CHAIN) & CONDENSATION (STEP) POLYMERIZATION

To make polymer become more attractive, lets take a look  one of the interesting video :