Question

Describe condensation polymer and addition polymers.

Answer 1

Polymerization:

• The process of joining several tiny molecules to form a single macromolecule is known as polymerization.
• Small molecules called monomers are the building components of polymers.
• According to the sorts of processes involved, polymerization may be divided into two categories: condensation polymerization and addition polymerization.
• The primary distinction between addition and condensation polymerization is that while in addition polymerization, polymers are created by the addition of monomers without any by-products, in condensation polymerization, polymers are created by the condensation of multiple monomers, which produce by-products like $\mathrm{HCl}$, water, ammonia, and other small molecules.

Condensation polymerization:

• Repetitive condensation reactions between two distinct tri- or bi-functional monomeric units lead to the creation of condensation polymers.
• Small molecules like alcohol, water, hydrogen chloride, etc. are removed in this kind of reaction.
• Examples include terylene (dacron), nylon 6, and nylon 6.
• The condensation of (${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{16}{\mathrm{N}}_2$) hexamethylene diamine with (${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{10}{\mathrm{O}}_4$) adipic acid results in the formation of nylon 6, 6.

Addition polymerization:

• The repetitive addition of monomer molecules with triple or double bonds results in the creation of addition polymers.
• As two examples, consider the synthesis of (${\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}$) polythene from (${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4$) ethene and (${\left({\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_6\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}$) polypropene from (${\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_6$) propene.
• A homopolymer is an addition polymer that results from the polymerization of a single polymeric component. Eg: polythene ${\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_4\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}$.
• A copolymer is an addition polymer that is created from two distinct monomers during addition polymerization. Eg: Buna-N, Buna-S, etc.