Dr. Neelam from the Department of Chemistry discussed the classification of polymers based on their mechanism of polymerization. There are two main types: chain growth polymers, which are formed through free radical, cationic, or anionic mechanisms by which additional polymers are added to a growing chain; and step growth polymers, also called condensation polymers, which form through a step-by-step condensation reaction between functional groups rather than a chain reaction, examples being nylon, bakelite, and dacron. Chain growth polymerization involves the continuous addition of monomers to a growing polymer chain, while step growth polymerization progresses through the step-by-step condensation of monomers or oligomers.