living polymerization

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03597
A chain polymerization from which chain transfer and chain termination are absent. In many cases, the rate of chain initiation is fast compared with the rate of chain propagation, so that the number of kinetic-chain carriers is essentially constant throughout the polymerization.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. 'Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2308 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122287)