What can be used to initiate polymerization?

• A. Solvent
• B. Inhibitor
• C. Catalyst
• D. Binder

Answer: (C)

Initiation is about creating the reactive centers that start linking monomer units into a polymer. A catalyst does exactly that by providing or generating the reactive species (such as free radicals, ions, or activated metal centers) that kick off the chain-growth or step-growth process. Once these active centers form, monomers begin to add on and the polymer grows.

Inhibitors work against this by scavenging reactive species, effectively stopping initiation. Solvent can influence how quickly or evenly the reaction occurs by affecting concentration and heat transfer, but it does not initiate polymerization on its own. Binder is the resin component that forms the final material, not the initiator of the polymerization process.