For example, polyester formation often involves the substitution of an alcohol functional group at a carboxylic acid, making an ester. The reaction generally involves substitution at a carboxyloid. It can also provide insight into how the polymerization occurs, just as kinetics can provide insight into other reaction mechanisms.Ĭondensation polymers grow through a a step-growth process. This information can tell us how long it will take for a polymer to reach an optimum length. It is important to understand how reactions proceed over time.
