Polymers

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Polymers are materials with very, very long-chain molecules. In many instances the polymers arise because of the unique ability of carbon atoms to join up to form long chains and rings.
 
Once chemists had realised that natural materials such as rubber consist of long-chain molecules, they set about making synthetic polymers. There are two main ways to make polymers: addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation.

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Webguides

• Polymers and intermolecular forces
• A polymeric shopping mall

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updated: 14 September 2003