Acetal plastic or also known as polyoxymethylene (POM) is a high-performance engineering plastic that has been gaining popularity in different industries throughout time This type of thermoplastic was initially developed by DuPont during the 1950’s. It has since then found utility in various applications owing to its distinctive traits and benefits.

Below information is to throw light on Acetal plastic and its characteristics, applications, pros, etc.

Plasticut is a leading supplier of acetal plastic across Australia.

What is Acetal Plastic? 

Acetal plastic is a type of semi-crystalline plastic which is famous for its high strength, rigidity, and toughness. It is a versatile material that can be readily machined into various forms and sizes, and hence favored by a number of producers.

Wear resistance is one distinctive feature of Acetal plastic; hence, it’s widely used in applications that involve frequent or continuous operations. This material is also chemically, moisture and heat resistant, capable of withstanding even harsh environments.

Properties 

Acetal plastic possesses some properties that make it a sought-after material by several industries. Some of the key properties of Acetal plastic include:

  1. High Mechanical Strength: Acetal plastic has high tensile strength which makes it resilient to deformation and it can handle heavy loads. This makes it suitable for use in applications which need strong and durable materials.
  2. Low Friction Coefficient: Acetal plastic has a low coefficient of friction which makes it has outstanding slip qualities. This becomes it ideal for use in components that require low friction and wear, like gears, bearings and bushings.
  3. Dimensional Stability: Acetal plastic has excellent dimensional stability which implies that it remains in the same shape and size despite temperatures and humidity levels changes. That makes it suitable for use in precision parts and components that require high dimensional tolerance.
  4. Chemical Resistance: Acetal plastic is highly resistant to most types of chemicals— solvents, oils, and fuels. It therefore makes it convenient to employ it in the manufacture of several chemical and industrial products as well as automotive parts, fuel systems and chemical processing equipment.
  5. Thermal Stability: Acetal plastic has good resistance to high temperature; the melting point is about 175-185°C. It can also retain its mechanical properties at high temperatures which makes it applicable in the applications where thermal stress is the key challenge.

 

Materials 

Acetal plastic is available in two main types: homopolymer and copolymer They share the same properties but their bonding schemes are different.

  1. Homopolymer: Homopolymer Acetal plastic is composed of a single polymer chain and because of that it is more resistant to chemical and wear than copolymer. It is also a bit stiffer and has a higher melting point than copolymer as well.
  2. Copolymer: Copolymer Acetal plastic consists of two different monomers and hence is slightly different from the homopolymer. It has a lower melting temperature and is simpler to process; therefore, this liquefied gas is appropriate for areas where complex items are needed.

 

Uses 

The variety of applications of acetal plastic spans from automotive and aviation to medical and consumer goods. Some of the common applications of Acetal plastic include:

  1. Automotive Industry: Acetal plastic is broadly used in the automobile sector for diversified applications like fuel system components, door handles, seat belt buckles, and gears.
  2. Aerospace Industry: The use of Acetal plastic in the aerospace industry is due to its good strength and high chemical resistance properties. It is applied in applications such as bushings, gears and fuel system parts.
  3. Medical Industry: The application of acetal plastic in medical sector includes surgical instruments, orthopedic implants and drug delivery systems mainly due to its biocompatibility and resistance to sterilization methods.
  4. Consumer Goods: Acetal plastic finds wide application in consumer products like zips, fasteners, handles and other kitchenware, on account of its durability and resistance to wear.
  5. Electrical and Electronics Industry: The great dimensional stability and insulating performance of Acetal plastic make it applicable in electric and electronic components, such as connectors, switches and insulators.

 

Advantages 

 

What is more, benefits of Acetal plastic overpowered its characteristics and application fields. Some of the key benefits of this material include: 

  1. Lightweight: Acetal plastic is taken to be a lightweight material hence it is used for the manufacture industries which require low weight components such as cars and space technologies.
  2. Easy to machine: The acetal plastic is easy to machine it can therefore be molded or machined into various shapes and sizes. thereby, it becomes preferred option by many manufacturers.
  3. Cost-effective: Acetal plastic is one of the viable materials as it is readily available, it has good mechanical properties. Its durability feature makes it long lasting hence no frequent replacement.
  4. Excellent corrosion resistance: Acetal plastic shows outstanding corrosion resistance; hence, it can be readily used for operations in the presence of corrosive chemicals as well as environments.

 

Summary 

Acetal plastic is a multifunctional material that has continuously become remarkably superior over the years because of its special qualities and benefits. It has excellent mechanical strength, low friction coefficient and chemical resistance that have made it a preferred choice of many industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical and consumer goods.

The lightness, machinability and affordability of this material make it a feasible substitute for fabricators. Acetal plastic has all its nice side-effects, without doubt, is a very useful material for many applications.

The advantages of acetal plastic are light weighted, easy to machine, cost effective and excellent corrosion resistance.

To sum up everything, Acetal polymer is very versatile and used in the manufacturing are multidimensional. It is reputed for its strength, durability and chemical resistance. Acetal is widely used in industries like automotive, electronics and medical (device) industry. It is easy to machine and has a low friction coefficient, thus making it suitable for precision parts and components.

Acetal is FDA approved for utilization in food contact applications and can withstand high temperatures as well. Due to its numerous advantages, no wonder acetal is a common choice for the production of a wide range of products.