Differences between chain growth and step growth polymerisation:









    

        

            

            
Chain growth polymerisation
            
            

            
Step growth polymerisation
            
        
        

            

            
*Concentration of monomers disappears early in the   reaction.
            
            

            
* Concentration of monomers decreases steadily   throughout the reaction
            
        
        

            

            
*Reaction is fast and polymer is formed at once.
            
            

            
*The polymer is formed in gradual steps.
            
        
        

            

            
*There is very little change in the molecular mass   throughout the reaction.
            
            

            
*The molecular mass of polymer increases throughout   the reaction.
            
        
        

            

            
*Increase in reaction time increases the yield but   molecular weight is affected a little.
            
            

            
*Long reaction time is required to get high   molecular mass polymer.
            
        
        

            

            
*Only one repeating unit is added at a time.
            
            

            
Any two species present can react.
            
        
        

            

            
*Reaction mixture contains only a monomer, polymer   and growing chain.
            
            

            
*All molecular species are present at any stage.
            
        
        

            

            
 
            
            

            
 
            
        
    


						

							In chain growth polymerization, the monomer consists of unsaturated covalent bonds.In step growth polymerization, the monomer doesn`t consists of
						

							In chain growth polymerization, the monomer consists of unsaturated covalent bonds.In step growth polymerization, the monomer doesn`t consists of unsaturated covalent bonds.
						

							Stepgrowth polymerisation doesn`t consists of unsaturated covalent bonds. But chain growth polymerization consists of unsaturated covalent bonds.