3.4.9 Polymers - Addition polymers

Specification

Students should:
  • be able to draw the repeating unit of addition polymers from monomer structures and vice versa

Addition

This is the reaction between a double or triple bond in which further units are added to the atoms with the double bond between them, changing the double bond to a single bond in the process.

Like all mechanisms it is categorised according to the mode of chemical attack by the reagent plus the overall effect of the reaction:

Addition to alkenes


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Addition polymerisation

This is when the alkene double bond opens and it adds to another alkene molecule and this, in turn, does the same etc., etc.

Addition polymerisation

You see the pattern?


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