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Condensation polymer differs from addition polymers:


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Solution

  • Polymerization is the method of combining many small molecules to create a single macromolecule. Monomers are small molecules that serve as the building blocks of polymers.
  • Polymerization is classified into two categories based on the types of reactions involved: Addition polymerization and Condensation polymerization.

1. Addition polymerization

The formation of addition polymers occurs by the repeated addition of monomer molecules that possess triple or double bonds.

Examples:

The formation of ((C3H6)n) polypropene from (C3H6) propene, and ((C2H4)n) polythene from (C2H4) ethene.

  • Homopolymers – The formation of additional polymers due to the polymerization of single polymeric species is called homopolymers. For example, polythene ((C2H4)n).
  • Copolymers – The formation of additional polymers that occur due to addition polymerization from two different monomers is called a copolymer. For example, Buna-N, Buna-S, etc.

2. Condensation polymerization

The formation of condensation polymers occurs by the repeated condensation reaction between two different tri-functional or bi-functional monomeric units. In this type of reaction, small molecules such as alcohol, water, hydrogen chloride, etc. are eliminated.

Examples:

are nylon 6, nylon 6, 6, terylene (dacron), etc. The formation of nylon 6, 6 occurs due to the condensation of (C6H16N2) hexamethylene diamine with (C6H10O4) adipic acid.

The main difference between addition and condensation polymerization is that in addition polymerization the polymers are formed by the addition of monomers with no by-products whereas in condensation polymerization, the polymers are formed due to the condensation of more than one different monomer resulting in the formation of small molecules such as HCl, water, ammonia, etc., as by-products.


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