What is the difference between condensation polymerization and addition polymerization?

1 Answer
Apr 8, 2018

Consider the following explanation.

Explanation:

Addition Polymerization

Addition Polymerization involves polymers which are formed by the combination of alkene monomers to produce a single huge molecule only.

Note:Nothing is eliminated, the monomers simply add up to each other.

Such reactions are catalyzed typically by peroxides and acids at a pressure of about 1000atm where the temperature reaches to about 2000^oC.
Typical examples are the formation of Polyethylene from Ethylene or the formation of PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) from Vinyl Chloride.

The reaction in the case of polyethylene comes out to be:
http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/polymers/polyethene.htmlhttp://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/polymers/polyethene.html (Site Used for Image Source only)

Condensation Polymerization

Condensation Polymerization involves polymers which are formed by the combination of monomers with the elimination of simple molecules like H_2O or NH_3.

Typical examples of such polymers are Polyesters and Polyamides.
Nylon,6-6 is the most common polyamide which is obtained by heating hexamethylene diamine with adipic acid under N_2 at 2000^oC.

The reaction comes out to be:
http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem112/materials/polymers.htmlhttp://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem112/materials/polymers.html (Site used for Image Source Only)