Cold-Cured vs Heat-Cured Acrylic — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: C — Benzoyl peroxide is activated by a tertiary amine, permitting polymerisation at room temperature
Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as E
A is correct. Conventional cold-cured acrylic uses a benzoyl peroxide–tertiary amine redox system: the amine chemically activates the peroxide, generating free radicals without an external heat-curing cycle. In heat-cured acrylic, thermal energy decomposes the peroxide. Option B describes visible-light-cured resin rather than conventional autopolymerising PMMA. Cold curing generally achieves less complete polymerisation, so it does not ordinarily provide a stronger denture base than heat curing, excluding C. It also leaves more—not less—residual methyl methacrylate, excluding D. Autoclave processing is not required for conventional self-curing acrylic, so E is incorrect.
Reference: Kwon TY, Bagheri R, Kim YK, Kim KH, Burrow MF. Cure mechanisms in materials for use in esthetic dentistry. Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry. 2012;3(1):3–16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22298515/