Too much initiator increases the risk of

• A. It reduces curing time.
• B. It increases the risk of brittleness and discoloration.
• C. It improves the color stability.
• D. It has no effect on the polymer.

Answer: (B)

Initiator amount controls how many radicals are produced to start the polymerization when the product is cured. If you have too much initiator, you generate radicals very quickly, causing the resin to cure rapidly. This rapid cure creates a stiff, highly crosslinked network that can trap internal stresses, leading to a brittle film that cracks or chips more easily. The excess initiator and the faster reaction can also produce byproducts and heat, which can cause discoloration over time. So, the main risk with too much initiator is brittleness and discoloration.