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How does condensation polymerization differ from addition polymerization?
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major industrial polymers
Figure 1: The linear form of polyethylene, known as high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
The primary difference between condensation polymerization and addition polymerization lies in the formation of by-products during the reaction process.
- Condensation polymerization: Each step of the reaction is accompanied by the elimination of a small molecule, such as water or other by-products. This process typically involves monomers that contain two or more reactive atomic groupings, such as those found in the production of polyester or nylon-6,6.1234
- Addition polymerization: Monomers react to form a polymer without the formation of any by-products. This process is characteristic of monomers containing a double bond or a ring structure and is usually carried out in the presence of catalysts.154
While both methods are used to create linear or cross-linked polymers, they are fundamentally distinguished by whether the chemical combination of monomers results in the release of additional small molecules.1