In
polymer chemistry,
polymerization is a process of reacting
monomer molecules together in a
chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks or
polymer chains
[1] [2] [3]. There are many forms of polymerization and different systems exist to categorize them.
The main categories are
In chemical compounds, polymerization occurs via a variety of reaction mechanisms which vary in complexity due to functional groups present in reacting compounds[4] and their inherent steric effects explained by VSEPR Theory. In more straightforward polymerization, alkenes, which are a relatively stable due to s bonding between carbon atoms form polymers through relatively simple radical reactions; conversely, more complex reactions such as those that involve substitution at the carbonyl atom require more complex synthesis due to the way in which reacting molecules polymerize.[4]
As alkenes can be formed in somewhat straightforward reaction mechanisms, they form useful compounds such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) when undergoing radical reactions,[4] which are produced in high tonnages each year[4] due to their usefulness in manufacturing processes of commercial products, such as piping, insulation and packaging. Polymers such as PVC are generally referred to as "singular" polymers as they consist of repeated long chains or structures of the same monomer unit, whereas polymers that consist of more than one molecule are referred to as "co-polymers".
