Full polymerisation can take 24 to 48 hours; setting is not the end of the polymerisation process. What does this imply about cure time?

• A. The cure fully completes polymerisation at setting
• B. Polymerisation ends exactly at setting
• C. Cure time is the only determinant of final result
• D. Polymerisation can continue after the product has set

Answer: (D)

Curing is ongoing even after the surface has set. When full polymerisation can take 24 to 48 hours, the initial set only marks the moment the material becomes hard to touch, not the moment when all chemical cross-links have formed. The chemical reaction continues after setting, so the final properties—strength, durability, and even appearance—can improve as time passes. That’s why cure time isn’t limited to the setting moment; polymerisation can and does continue after the product has set. The other ideas imply the cure ends at setting or that setting is the final determinant, which isn’t accurate given the extended curing process.