Q.Draw the flow chart diagram to show classification of polymers based on type of polymerisation.
Step 1. At the top of the flow chart is 'Polymerization', the general process converting monomers to a high molecular mass polymer.
Step 2. It branches into three modes: Addition (chain-growth) polymerization -- monomers with a C=C double bond add on one after another without losing any small molecule (e.g. polythene from ethylene, via free-radical initiation/propagation/termination).
Step 3. Condensation (step-growth) polymerization -- polyfunctional monomers react in a series of steps, each eliminating a small molecule such as water, HCl, methanol or ammonia (e.g. terylene from ethylene glycol + terephthalic acid, eliminating water).
Step 4. Ring-opening polymerization -- a cyclic monomer (lactam/cyclic ether/lactone) has its ring opened by acid or base catalysis and adds on one unit at a time (e.g. nylon 6 from caprolactam).
Polymerization
|-- Addition (chain-growth): e.g. polythene, PVC, teflon
|-- Condensation (step-growth): e.g. terylene, nylon 6,6, bakelite
|-- Ring-opening: e.g. nylon 6
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