Ethan Clarke
Polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic, also known as acetal, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer. It is a high-performance plastic with excellent mechanical properties and versatile applications. POM is known for its high strength, hardness, rigidity, and toughness. It has good sliding characteristics, excellent wear resistance, and low moisture absorption. POM is used in a variety of industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and medical technology. It is also 100% recyclable.
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What You'll Learn
POM is a strong, hard plastic
POM, or Polyoxymethylene, is a strong and hard plastic that is nearly as strong as epoxy or aluminium, but with a bit more flexibility. It is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with high mechanical strength and rigidity. POM is known for its toughness, with a strength that rivals that of plastics like epoxy resins and polycarbonates.
POM is a versatile engineering material that can be used in a variety of applications, including in the automotive and consumer electronics industries. It is often used in wet engineering environments due to its near-zero moisture absorption and excellent dimensional stability. POM maintains its performance and form even in applications requiring extensive machining, close tolerances, and high resistance to creep and deformation.
POM has a unique set of thermal properties that make it a great candidate for applications requiring efficient thermal transfer and dissipation, such as heat sinks or thermal management components in electronic devices. It has a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, making it ideal for dry, high-temperature applications where maintaining dimensional stability is crucial.
POM is also used in medical technology, where it helps to reduce manufacturing costs by consolidating multiple parts into a single unit and implementing automated assembly processes. Acetal copolymers, a type of POM, are easily processed and highly crystalline, offering high strength, stiffness, and toughness over a wide range of temperatures and chemical environments.
POM is a 100% recyclable material with excellent machining abilities, making it a popular choice for various applications, including injection-molded parts such as small gear wheels, eyeglass frames, ball bearings, ski bindings, and electronic devices.
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It is also known as acetal or polyoxymethylene
POM plastic, also known as acetal or polyoxymethylene, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with high mechanical strength and rigidity. Acetal polymer has good sliding characteristics and excellent wear resistance, as well as low moisture absorption. The good dimensional stability and particularly good fatigue strength, as well as excellent machining ability, make POM polymer a highly versatile engineering material, even for complex components.
Acetal homopolymers (POM-H) and acetal copolymers (POM-C) differ in their properties. Due to its higher crystallinity, POM-H has a slightly higher density, hardness and strength. POM-C, on the other hand, has higher chemical resistance and a lower melting point. Homopolymer acetal is produced via the polymerization of a single monomer, resulting in a regular crystalline molecular structure. Copolymer acetal is produced by polymerizing two different monomers, resulting in a more amorphous structure.
POM is commonly extruded as continuous lengths of round or rectangular sections, which can be cut to length and sold as bar or sheet stock for machining. It is a strong and hard plastic, nearly as strong as epoxy or aluminium, but with more flexibility. POM is also 100% recyclable and has a wide range of applications, including in the automotive and consumer electronics industries.
POM has been used in medical technology, contributing to the development of mission-critical components and offering excellent candidates for medical applications. Acetal copolymers, in particular, are easily processed, highly crystalline plastics that deliver high strength, stiffness, toughness and lubricity over a broad range of temperatures and chemical environments. These polymers are FDA-compliant and pharma-friendly.
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It has a wide range of applications
POM, or Polyoxymethylene, is a plastic with a wide range of applications across various industries. It is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer with high mechanical strength and rigidity. Its versatility stems from its unique properties, such as excellent wear resistance, low moisture absorption, and good dimensional stability.
One of the key applications of POM is in the automotive industry. It is used for manufacturing various vehicle components, including fuel sender units, light and control switches, power windows, door lock systems, and articulated shells. POM's contribution to improving in-vehicle air quality by reducing VOCs is noteworthy. For instance, DuPont's Delrin® 300TE acetal resin is an impact-modified, low-emission grade suitable for automotive interiors, with formaldehyde emissions of 1.0 mg/m² and lower.
POM is also widely used in consumer electronics. Its electrical resistivity of 14×10^15 Ω⋅cm makes it a dielectric material with a breakdown voltage of 19.5MV/m. It is commonly used for engineering components such as small gear wheels, eyeglass frames, ball bearings, knife handles, and electronic device parts.
In the medical field, POM is valuable for reducing manufacturing costs and addressing the challenges of mission-critical components. Acetal copolymers, a type of POM, are easily processed, highly crystalline plastics that offer high strength, stiffness, and toughness. They are FDA-compliant, making them suitable for medical applications. Acetal copolymers have been used extensively in irrigation, plumbing, and process industries for parts like housings, taps, valves, and couplings.
POM also finds application in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and model-making. Its ability to retain good mechanical performance in wet engineering environments sets it apart from other materials that may degrade due to hydrolysis or chemical corrosion. POM's versatility in these applications is attributed to its semi-crystalline nature, which provides exceptional mechanical properties and adaptability.
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POM is 100% recyclable
POM, or Polyoxymethylene, is a plastic that is 100% recyclable. It is also known as polyformaldehyde, polymethylene glycol, and polyoxymethylene glycol. POM is a strong and hard plastic, with high tensile strength, and is nearly as strong as epoxy or aluminium. It is also flexible and has very little shrinkage. POM is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with high mechanical strength and rigidity. It has excellent wear resistance and low moisture absorption.
POM is commonly used in engineering applications, such as mechanical gears, springs, screws, and nuts. It is also used in electrical engineering for insulators, connectors, and electronic device parts. POM is also used in the automotive industry for fuel sender units, door lock systems, and other vehicle components. In addition, POM has applications in medical technology, where it can be used for housings, taps, valves, and couplings.
POM is available in a variety of colours and can be produced in different shapes, such as sheets, rods, and tubes. It is also known for its dimensional stability, which means it can maintain its original dimensions when exposed to changes in temperature and humidity. This makes it suitable for extreme environments and precision engineering applications.
POM has two main variations: homopolymer acetal (POM-H) and copolymer acetal (POM-C). Homopolymer acetal is produced via the polymerization of a single monomer, resulting in a regular crystalline molecular structure. It exhibits better mechanical performance, higher tensile strength, and improved thermal conductivity compared to copolymer acetal. Copolymer acetal, on the other hand, has a more amorphous structure due to the polymerization of two different monomers. It exhibits higher chemical resistance, lower melting point, and reduced outgassing compared to homopolymer acetal.
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It is used in medical technology
POM plastic, or polyoxymethylene, is a thermoplastic polymer with a wide range of applications in medical technology. Its unique physical and chemical properties make it ideal for use in medical devices, ensuring the safety of patients and medical personnel.
One of the key advantages of POM in medical technology is its excellent biocompatibility. POM has been rigorously tested and proven to be non-irritating, non-toxic, and non-allergenic to human tissue. This makes it suitable for implantable medical devices such as artificial joints and dental implants. POM is also resistant to multiple cleaning and disinfecting materials, as well as solvents, making it easy to sterilize and maintain.
The strength, stiffness, and toughness of POM are well-suited for surgical and dental instruments that need to withstand frequent sterilization and cleaning. POM's chemical resistance and wear resistance make it an ideal choice for scalpel handles, forceps, dental drills, and fixtures. Its high-precision processing performance and good sliding characteristics further enhance its suitability for these applications.
POM is also used in diagnostic equipment, such as X-ray and ultrasonic inspection machines. Its electrical insulation properties and resilience make it a safe and reliable material for these devices. In addition, POM's light weight and ease of shaping compared to metals and glass give it a higher degree of freedom in manufacturing, making it a versatile choice for various medical device components.
The medical-grade POM homopolymer TENAC™ Q5010 by Asahi Kasei is a notable example of POM's application in medical technology. It has superior strength and durability, making it suitable for mechanical parts, valve parts, and gears in insulin pens and asthma inhalers. POM's use in these devices contributes to their precision and reliability.
Overall, POM plastic plays a significant role in medical technology, offering unique advantages that enhance the performance and safety of medical devices, contributing to advancements in the medical industry.
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Frequently asked questions
POM plastic is commonly known as acetal, polyacetal, and polyoxymethylene.
POM is a strong, hard, and rigid plastic with high tensile strength, low moisture absorption, and excellent dimensional stability. It is also 100% recyclable.
POM is produced through the polymerization of a single monomer, resulting in a regular crystalline molecular structure.
POM has a variety of applications, including engineering components such as gears, eyeglass frames, automotive parts, and consumer electronics. It is also used in medical technology and food-grade applications.
POM is nearly as strong as epoxy but has some key differences. Epoxy can be cast and adheres to everything it touches, while POM adheres to practically nothing. Epoxy also needs time to cure, while POM is ready as soon as it cools down.
