Radical polymerization is a type of polymerization reaction in which reactive intermediates called radicals are generated. Synonyms for radical polymerization include free-radical polymerization, chain-growth polymerization, and addition polymerization. Free-radical polymerization refers to the reaction in which radicals initiate the reaction, propagate the chain growth, and ultimately terminate the polymerization process. Chain-growth polymerization emphasizes the fact that the polymer chain growth is controlled by the reactive radical intermediates. Addition polymerization is a term used to describe the mechanism by which monomers are added to an existing polymer chain. Regardless of which term is used, radical polymerization plays a fundamental role in many important industrial processes, including the production of plastics, adhesives, and coatings.