For epoxy resins, or other resins used in fiberglassing and the like. You have two components that you mix in specific ratios. I’ve often heard the “hardening” agent referred to as a “catalyst”. However, a catalyst doesn’t get used up in the reaction and is available continual reuse…as in the metals in a catalytic converter.
Is the hardener really a “catalyst” or is this a misuse of the term?
FWIW, I found the following at an Epoxy floor site. (My emphasis.)
Some are “catalyzed” by a free radical initiator? are these initiators really catalysts?
The classic radical initiated polymerization results in the radical generating species chemically bonded to one end of the polymer chain. In that respect, they are, as you sugest, not catalysts. They are initiators.
Common parlance may label them catalysts because they make the reaction go, and without them the reaction does not go, but you are right that they do not strictly meet the definition of a catalyst.
There are, however, polymerizations that are truly catalyzed (the catalyst is unchanged and available after the polymerization).