Acetal
Acetal, also known as POM (Polyoxymethylene), is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic material, with a continuous use temperature range of up to 180° F (82° C). Acetal offers high strength and stiffness coupled with high dimensional stability and ease of machining.
Description
Acetal, also known as POM (Polyoxymethylene), or by tradenames such as Acetron® or Delrin®, is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic material, with a continuous use temperature range of up to 180° F (82° C).
Boasting high strength and stiffness, it is among the strongest and stiffest of all thermoplastics — coupled with high dimensional stability and ease of machining. Acetal is one of the most widely used engineering grade thermoplastics and is easy to machine, making it an excellent choice for complex parts where tight tolerances are required. It may also be processed by conventional injection molding and extrusion techniques.
Acetal is characterized by a low coefficient of friction and good wear properties, and offers especially low moisture sensitivity in wet environments. It also offers good electrical properties and resistance to a wide range of chemicals including many solvents. It is used in a wide variety of industrial applications where strength, toughness and low moisture absorption are required.
Acetal (copolymer) shows its strength in wet and high-temperature environments. Because of its low moisture absorption, it outperforms other materials such as nylon in high moisture or submerged applications. Acetal (homopolymer) has slightly better mechanical properties compared to the copolymer version, but with centerline porosity that may eliminate it from being used in certain applications. It is ideal for applications that benefit from its higher strength and rigidity, such as thin walled bushings.
Polymershapes proudly offers acetal from industry-leading manufacturers, including Quadrant Engineering Plastics (Acetron®). We can meet your acetal needs in a variety of shapes and sizes, including sheet, rod, hexagonal rod, square rod and tube. We can also provide you with various grades of acetal, including homopolymer and copolymer, general purpose, unfilled, glass-filled, PTFE-filled, static dissipative, and metal detectable.
Polymershapes offers a variety of value-add products and services. Our film conversion centers and fabrication centers feature state of the art facilities and are focused on providing you best-in-class convenience and excellent customer service.
Polymershapes looks forward to helping you meet your needs for acetal, or any of a vast range of plastic materials and associated products from our broad and deep inventory — Contact your local Polymershapes facility today for more information!
Features & Benefits
- Strength/Rigidity
- Dimensional Stability
- Low Moisture Absorption
- Wear Resistant
Applications
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Bearings and Bushings
- Bus and Rail
- Chemical Processing
- Food and Beverage Preparation and Processing
- Gaskets and Seals
- Gears
- Heavy Equipment
- Machine Shops
- Medical Packaging
- Oil and Gas
- Packaging and Conveying Equipment
- Recreational Vehicles
- Semiconductor and Electronics
- Sporting Goods
- Tooling
- Valves and Fittings
- Watercraft
- Wear Strips
Physical Properties
| UNITS | ASTM TEST | Copolymer ACETAL | Homopolymer ACETAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength @ break @ 73°F | psi | D638 | 4,500 – 9,690 | 7,000 – 9,800 |
| Flexural modulus @ 73°F | psi | D790 | 264,000 – 434,000 | 305,000 – 464,000 |
| Izod impact (notched) | ft-lbs/in of notch | D256 | 0.70 – 1.6 | 0.77 – 2.3 |
| Deflection Temperature Under Load @ 264 psi | °F | D648 | 208 – 230 | 199 – 320 |
| Maximum continuous service temp in air | °F | D794 | 207 – 212 | 185 – 302 |
| Water absorption @ 73°F – 24 hours | % | D570 | 0.11 – 0.27 | 0.16 – 0.26 |
| Compressive strength | psi | D695 | 4,400 – 16,000 | 5,200 – 16,000 |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) | (in/in°F) | D696 | 7.2E-6 to 7.4E-5 | 5.4E-5 to 5.6E-5 |
| Coefficient of friction | D1894 | 0.005 – 0.46 | 0.070 – 0.25 | |
| Taber Abrasion Resistance | mg | D1044 | 13.8 – 14.0 | 12.8 – 13.1 |
*Technical Data is provided courtesy of UL Prospector (www.ulprospector.com) and IAPD (www.IAPD.org).
Data is to be considered representative and is provided for guidance only. All product performance must be verified by the user under actual application conditions.
Standard Sizes
| Standard Shapes | Sheet, Rod, Hexagonal Rod, Square Rod, Tube |
| Sheet | Dimensions: 12″ x 12″, 12″ x 24″, 12″ x 48″, 24″ x 24″, 24″ x 48″, 48″ x 96″, 48″ x 120″ Thickness: 0.030″ – 6″ |
| Rod | Diameter: 0.125″ – 14″ |
| Hex Rod | Diameter: 0.25″ – 1.125″ |
| Square Rod | Width: 0.375″ – 1″ |
| Tube | Outside Diameter: 3″ – 8.5″ |
*The sizes above are standard stocking sizes. Other custom sizes are available upon request. Please contact your local branch for information and a quote.
Suppliers / Brands
| Suppliers | Brands |
 | Acetron®, Ertacetal® |
| Ensinger | Tecaform® |
| Polymer Industries | UNITAL® |
| Röchling |