in the manufacture of polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and acrylate. In these cases, the alkenes RCH=CH₂ are converted to high molecular weight alkanes (-RCHCH₂-)_n (R = H, CH₃, Cl, CO₂CH₃).

Other forms of chain growth polymerization include cationic addition polymerization