How do self-polymerizing acrylic resins differ from heat-cured resins?

Self-polymerizing acrylic resins are formulated to cure through a chemical reaction at room temperature, which leads to the creation of a polymer without the need for external heat sources. One of the key characteristics of self-polymerizing acrylics is their tendency to retain a higher quantity of residual monomers after the curing process compared to heat-cured resins. This occurs because the curing process is often incomplete or less efficient at room temperature, leading to unreacted monomers being left in the final product.

Heat-cured resins, on the other hand, undergo a more thorough curing process due to the application of heat, which facilitates a more complete polymerization reaction. This results in a lower residual monomer content, contributing to a generally more stable and fully formed polymer structure.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary differences. Higher molecular weight is not a distinguishing characteristic since both types of resins can achieve similar molecular weights depending on their formulations. Curing time is typically shorter for self-polymerizing resins, and increased strength is generally associated with heat-cured resins, which benefit from better cross-linking and structural integrity due to the heat-assisted curing process.