Reversible-deactivation polymerization (RDP) is a form of
polymerization propagated by chain carriers the majority of which at any instant are held in a state of dormancy through an
equilibrium process involving other species. This ensures that the concentration of active carriers is sufficiently low as to render
chain termination reactions negligible. Despite having some common features, it is distinct from
living polymerization which requires a complete absence of termination.