In which process does polymer powder undergo a chemical transformation?

The process during which polymer powder undergoes a chemical transformation is polymerization. This is the chemical reaction where small molecules called monomers join together to form a larger, more complex structure known as a polymer. In the context of nail technology, when polymer powder is mixed with a liquid monomer, it triggers the polymerization process, resulting in a hardened acrylic material that can be shaped and used for nail enhancements.

Curing and hardening are often associated with the finalization of the product but are not the primary transformations that take place at the molecular level. Curing generally refers to the process of hardening or setting a material after it has been applied, while hardening indicates the transition from a soft or malleable state to a more solid form but does not inherently involve a chemical change. Mixing, on the other hand, is simply the act of combining the polymer powder and the liquid monomer to initiate polymerization but does not itself constitute a chemical transformation.