The monomers will add to each other in alternating sequence forming an ester functional group.

Polyamides can also be produced by condensation reactions but between dicarboxylic acids and diamines, they again produce a water molecule, but will create an amide function group instead of an ester function group.

Amino acids will produce a condensation polymer with repeating amide function groups, these function groups can also be called peptide bonds. Various amino acids can be found in the data sheets.

Examples of Condensation Polymers

Terylene

Nylon 6,6

Kevlar

Polyalkenes produced by addition polymerisation of alkenes, they produce very long chains which are non-polar. The non-polar bonds within these long chains means that it is non-biodegradable. They can be disposed of in the following ways;

              Remelting and reforming in to new products, this can not be done indefinitely as the polymers chains become damaged over time.

              Incineration, energy can be recovered but releases carbon dioxide in to the atmosphere. In some cases incineration can also produce toxic monomers, carbon monoxide, or carbon particulates.

              Buried in landfill where they will stay for several hundred years.

Polyesters and polyamides have ester or amide linkages which have polar bonds, these polar bonds make the polymer biodegradable as they can be hydrolysed.