What is the difference between homopolymer and copolymer

What is a Homopolymer? What is a Copolymer? What is the difference between Homopolymer and Copolymer? A homopolymer is formed by a single type of monomer. Thus, it consists of only one type of repeating unit.

Monomers that undergo this process must have either double or single bonds. The repeating unit enclosed in brackets represents the chemical structure of a homopolymer. Some common examples of homopolymers include polyethylene, polypropylene , polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and poly methyl methacrylate.

A polymer formed from more than one type of monomer is called a copolymer. Thus, it contains two or more different types of repeating units. Usually, most of the copolymers are formed through a process called condensation polymerization. There are several classes of copolymers: block copolymers, alternating copolymers, graft copolymers, and statistical copolymers. The structure of these classes can be explained simply by using two types of hypothetical repeating units namely; A and B.

In statistical copolymers , the sequence of repeating units obeys known statistical laws. Block copolymers are linear copolymers. Graft copolymers contain branches of different chemical structures attached to main chain.

Some common copolymers include poly vinyl acetate , poly ethylene oxide , poly ethylene terephthalate and poly hexamethylene sebaacamide. Structure of the condensation polymerization between Formaldehyde and Phenole to Bakelite. Homopolymers consist of single species of repeating units. Copolymers consist of two or more type of repeating units. Homopolymers have a single type of monomer. Copolymers have two or more types of monomers. In other words, there is one repeating unit.

For example, polystyrene is a homopolymer where the repeating unit is styrene residues. Figure A Homopolymer contains only one type of Monomers. Moroever, some common examples for homopolymers include nylon 6, nylon 11, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC or polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylonitrile, etc. In homopolymer, one monomer repeats and forms the whole polymer.

In contrast, in copolymer, there are two monomers making the polymer. Hence, this is the key difference between copolymer and homopolymer. Furthermore, another difference between copolymer and homopolymer is that there are different types of copolymers depending on how the two monomers join; there are various ways of joining the two monomers. But, in a homopolymer, this type of variation of joining cannot be seen. Polymers are macromolecules formed from monomers. According to the types of monomer that involve in the polymerization, there are two types of polymers.

They are the copolymers and homopolymers. The key difference between copolymer and homopolymer is that there are two monomers making the polymer in copolymers whereas, in homopolymer, one monomer repeats and forms the whole polymer. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph. Available here 2.

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