Polyesters are made by a different method of polymerisation. The equation for the reaction to produce a polyester can be represented as: Compare the polymerisation reaction used to produce poly(ethene) with the polymerisation reaction used to produce a polyester. – 6164

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1. Differences between poly(ethene) and polyester

   Poly(ethene) is made by addition polymerisation, but polyester is made by condensation polymerisation.

   Poly(ethene) comes from one monomer, but polyester is made from two different monomers.

   Poly(ethene) is made from ethene (an alkene), but polyester comes from a (di)carboxylic acid and a diol (alcohol).

   When making poly(ethene), only the polymer is formed, but when making polyester, water is also produced.

   The repeating unit in poly(ethene) is a hydrocarbon, but in polyester it has an ester linkage.

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