Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / Polymer Chemistry / Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer

Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer

November 27, 2018 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between copolymer and condensation polymer is that the copolymers form via copolymerization whereas the condensation polymers form via condensation reactions.

A polymer is a giant, macromolecule that contains thousands of repeating units linked to each other via covalent chemical bonding. There are several different forms of polymers. We can classify them according to structure, morphology, properties, etc. Copolymers and condensation polymers are such two types.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Copolymer
3. What is Condensation Polymer
4. Side by Side Comparison – Copolymer vs Condensation Polymer in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Copolymer?

A copolymer is a polymer material that contains more than one type of repeating unit. Therefore, two or more types of monomers link with each other in forming a copolymer. And, the process of polymerization that forms a copolymer is “copolymerization”. If this copolymerization involves two types of monomers, then the resulting polymer material is a bipolymer. Likewise, if it involves three monomers, then it results in a terpolymer, and if there are four monomers, then it results in a quaterpolymer. Mostly step-growth polymerization results in copolymers.

Key Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer

Figure 01: Structure of a Graft Copolymer

Also, there are different forms of copolymers according to the structure of polymer material. Linear copolymers include the followings:

  1. Block copolymers – contains two or more homopolymer subunits linked to each other via covalent bonds.
  2. Alternating copolymers – contains a regular alternating pattern of two different monomers in a linear structure.
  3. Periodic copolymers – contain units arranged in a repeating sequence.
  4. Gradient copolymers – the monomer composition changes gradually along the chain.

Likewise, there are branched structures of copolymers as well. Examples include brush and comb copolymers. Other than that, there are graft copolymers. It has its main chain containing the same type of monomer units and its branched made of a different monomer.

What is Condensation Polymer?

Condensation polymer is a polymer material that forms via a condensation chemical reaction. This reaction involves the joining of molecules with each other while removing byproducts such as water molecules, methanol molecules, etc. Since this reaction forms a polymer, we can name it as polycondensation. Moreover, it is a form of step-growth polymerization.

Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer

Figure 02: Formation of a Condensation Polymer

In this process, a linear polymer forms from monomers containing two functional groups in the same molecule. For instance, compounds with two reactive end groups can undergo this polymerization.

Moreover, the most common condensation polymer materials include polyamides, polyacetals, proteins, etc. Furthermore, these polymers are more biodegradable than other forms of polymers. Especially, in the presence of catalysts or bacterial enzymes, these polymers undergo hydrolysis.

What is the Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer?

Even though both copolymers and condensation polymers can form via step-growth polymerization processes; some copolymers form via chain-growth polymerization too. Thus, this is an important difference between copolymer and condensation polymer. However, we name the processes of formation of these polymer materials differently, specifying the end product. Therefore, the key difference between copolymer and condensation polymer is that copolymers form via copolymerization whereas condensation polymers form via condensation reactions.

As another important difference between copolymer and condensation polymer, we can say that copolymers contain different types of monomers while condensation polymers can have either same type of monomers or different types of monomers.

Difference Between Copolymer and Condensation Polymer in Tabular Form

Summary – Copolymer vs Condensation Polymer

Copolymers are polymer material containing at least two types of monomers. On the other hand, condensation polymers are polymer materials that form via condensation reactions while removing a small molecule as a byproduct. The key difference between copolymer and condensation polymer is that copolymers form via copolymerization whereas condensation polymers form via condensation reactions.

Reference:

1. Alison J. Scott, Alexander Penlidis, in Reference Module in Chemistry, Molecular Sciences and Chemical Engineering, 2017
2. Libretexts. “Condensation Polymers.” Chemistry LibreTexts, National Science Foundation, 6 Sept. 2017. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.”Graft copolymer 3D”By Minihaa – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”Condensation polymerization diacid diamine”By Calvero. – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Polymer and BiopolymerDifference Between Polymer and Biopolymer Difference Between Polymer and MonomerDifference Between Polymer and Monomer Difference Between XLPE and PVCDifference Between XLPE and PVC Difference Between Addition and Radical PolymerizationDifference Between Addition and Radical Polymerization Difference Between PP and PPCPDifference Between PP and PPCP

Filed Under: Polymer Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between LG Viper (LTE) and Samsung Galaxy Nexus (LTE)

Difference Between Lactide and Lactone

Difference Between Lactide and Lactone

Difference Between Social and Societal

Difference Between Contribution Margin and Gross Margin

What is the Difference Between Chlorine and Non Chlorine Bleach

What is the Difference Between Chlorine and Non Chlorine Bleach

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma
  • What is the Difference Between Medulla Oblongata and Spinal Cord
  • What is the Difference Between CHF and Pulmonary Edema
  • What is the Difference Between Bisphosphonates and Denosumab
  • What is the Difference Between Colles Fracture and Smith Fracture
  • What is the Difference Between Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.