Enhanced degree of polymerization of methacrylate and epoxy resins by plasmonic heating of embedded silver nanoparticles

•Silver nanoparticles were synthesized in situ in methacrylate and epoxy resins.•Ag NPs act as controlled sources of heat under light irradiation at the plasmon resonance wavelength.•The heat released by the Ag NPs increased the conversion of incompletely cured polymers.•Post curing via plasmonic heating is an alternative to traditional thermal treatments.