Question

Explain the concept of addition polymerization. Why is this process important when making different kinds of plastics?

Answer 1

polymerization: A process in which small molecules(monomers) combine together chemically to produce network molecule called a polymer.

there are two types polymerizations: 1) addition polymerization 2) condensation polymerization

Addition polymerization is a polymerization in which small molecules combine together by addition reaction without the loss of any atom or molecule like water.

Monomers usually having double bonds can form additional polymers. Examples are polyethenes which are formed by the addition of ethylene molecules, PVC which can be prepared by vinyl chloride, Teflon, Buna rubbers, polyacrylates, polystyrene, and PCTFE. Addition polymers are also formed from monomers that have a closed ring. The addition polymerization is a chain reaction which has.hree steps of this reaction.

1 ) INITIATION: how the reaction gets started
2) PROPAGATION how the reaction keeps going
3) TERMINATION: how the reaction stops

Example of polyethylene is shown below:

Plastics: are synthetic polymers

Addition polymerization is involved in the synthesis of thermosetting plastics which contains long chain polymers.chains are held by weak Vandervalls forces only. these plastics are soft in nature and melt to heat.when exposing and low molecular weight polymers. 80 percentage plastics produced are thermosetting plastics where addition polymerization takes place thatswhy addition polymerization has more importance in the preparation different kinds of plastics

Platics