Chemical Structure of Organic Polymers

Organic Polymers are often classified by the synthetic routes through which they are made.  The attached link gives a number of tables from L.H. Sperlings text, Introduction to Physical Polymer Science showing some classifications of organic polymers. (My List)  The simplest polymers consist of mono-substituted carbon chains based on the -CH2-CHR- repeat unit which is often formed from a vinyl compound, CH2=CHR.  These are termed "vinyl" polymers.  Generally, vinyl polymers are made by a "free-radical" reaction.  (Nice Summary at USM)

Chain Polymerization

Vinyl Free Radical Polymerization (From Chemistry Department U. Rochester)

Blue Ball Intro to Free Radical Vinyl Chain Polymerization

Blue BallFree Radical Polymerization - Initiation

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Monomers and Propagation

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Termination

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Complete Example

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Chain Transfer

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Dienes

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Reaction Methods

Blue Ball Free Radical Polymerization - Autoaccelleration

Blue Ball Statistical Copolymerization

Ionic Polymerization

Blue Ball Comparison of Free Radical and Ionic Polymerizations

Blue Ball Cationic Polymerization

Blue BallAnionic Polymerization

Blue Ball Carbonyl Polymerization

Ring Opening Polymerization

Blue Ball Intro to Ring Opening Polymerization

Blue Ball Ionic Mechanisms of Ring Opening Polymerization

Blue Ball Examples of Ring Opening Polymerization

In addition to Chain polymerization it is possible to polymerize by What is Called Step-Growth where addition occurs for all species not just for addition of a monomer to a chain. 

Blue Ball Step and Chain Polymerization

Step Polymerization (From Chemistry Department U. Rochester)
        Nylon Rope Trick

Blue Ball Molecular Weight in Step Polymerization

Blue Ball  Step Polymerization Reactions