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Second sentence of lead: The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applicable through a wide range of other chemistry sub-disciplines like organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry

Techniques
A wide variety of techniques for synthesizing polymers have been discovered.

Inorganic Polymer Synthesis

 * Free-radical polymerization
 * Ionic polymerization
 * Polycondensation
 * Polyaddition
 * Coordination Polymerization

Biopolymer Synthesis

 * Protein Biosynthesis
 * Cell-Free Protein Synthesis
 * DNA synthesis

Classification
Polymers can be subdivided into biopolymers and synthetic polymers according to their origin. Each one of these classes of compounds can be subdivided into more specific categories in relationship to their use and properties. A strand of cellulose showing the hydrogen bonds (dashed) within and between the chains.

Biopolymers are the structural and functional materials that comprise most of the organic matter in organisms. One major class of biopolymers are proteins, which are derived from amino acids. Polysaccharides, such as cellulose, chitin, and starch, are biopolymers derived from sugars. The polynucleic acids DNA and RNA are derived from phosphorylated sugars with pendant nucleotides that carry genetic information.

Synthetic polymers are the structural materials manifested in plastics, synthetic fibers, paints, building materials, furniture, mechanical parts, and adhesives. Synthetic polymers may be divided into thermoplastic polymers and thermoset plastics. Thermoplastic polymers include polyethylene, teflon, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, Poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl chloride, nylons, and rayon. Thermoset plastics include vulcanized rubber, bakelite, Kevlar, and polyepoxide. Almost all synthetic polymers are derived from petrochemicals.

Polymers are also important parts of composite materials such as carbon fiber-epoxy.

Viscosity
As polymers get longer and their molecular weight, the viscosity of polymers in their dissolved and liquid states tend to increase. Thus, the measured viscosity of synthesized polymers can provide valuable information about the average length of the polymer, the progress of reactions and in what ways the polymer branches (Rheology).