ACETAL/DELRIN PLASTIC MATERIALS & MACHINING
DIMENSIONALLY STABLE MATERIAL IDEAL FOR ELECTRICAL & MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Acetal (often marketed under its brand name, Delrin) are names for this high-performance thermoplastic. It's known as a stable, low-creep, FDA-compliant plastic with excellent electrical propertiesĀ As a thermoplastic polymer of formaldehyde, it has high mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and a wide temperature range.Ā The material is ideal for a breadth of applications, including but not limited to medical, automotive, and industrial food production.
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Acetal as a copolymer, or Delrin as a homopolymer, hasĀ excellent mechanical, electrical, and wear properties, as well as good dimensional stability with low creep.
This is a great material for bearing applications because it has aĀ low coefficient of frictionĀ and wears well in both wet and dry plastic machined applications.
In addition, it hasĀ low moisture absorption and high dielectric strength,Ā hence finding many uses in electrical products. With aĀ high melting point,Ā acetal machined parts can be used in continuous exposure to temperatures up to 185Ā°F and burst exposure to 200Ā°F.
It hasĀ good resistance to solvents, though strong acids and bases should be avoided. For a list of which chemicals to avoid,Ā see our chart.
When it comes to material shapes, Acetal and DelrinĀ both have good stiffness and toughness grades.Ā However, Delrin has slightly higher mechanical properties. Yet it should be known that the extrusion process for Delrin suffers from centerline porosity in sheets. Generally, Delrin sheet products are not watertight. Other notable properties areĀ good hydrolytic stability and resiliency.
While designers and engineers use acetal for components in many different industries, those inĀ aerospace, industrial food production, and electrical find the most use out of this material.Ā Known for its electrical insulation properties, we're able to use the material for certain housings that would be unfit to use with other materials.
Due to its low moisture absorption and low friction, we find that acetal/Delrin is a fit material for bushings, gears, bearings, and other moving parts.
Most have witnessed the excellent machinability the materials has as well. Able to work with tight tolerances and be formed into complex shapes, most machinists find it easy to work with acetal without much issue.
Moreover, acetal is available in many colors and varieties, allowing aesthetic choices for consideration when making.
Limitations & Considerations
While it's important to note that while acetal is a good material overall, it does have some limitations.
- AcetalĀ can be sensitive to UV radiationĀ and degrade the material quicker if left to prolonged sunlight exposure.
- ItĀ can be susceptible to stress cracking when in contact with certain materials. To see which,Ā visit our chart here.
Plastic Machining with Acetal/Delrin Plastic transcript
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
Acetal as a copolymer, or Delrin as a homopolymer, hasĀ excellent mechanical, electrical, and wear properties, as well as good dimensional stability with low creep.
This is a great material for bearing applications because it has aĀ low coefficient of frictionĀ and wears well in both wet and dry plastic machined applications.
In addition, it hasĀ low moisture absorption and high dielectric strength,Ā hence finding many uses in electrical products. With aĀ high melting point,Ā acetal machined parts can be used in continuous exposure to temperatures up to 185Ā°F and burst exposure to 200Ā°F.
It hasĀ good resistance to solvents, though strong acids and bases should be avoided. For a list of which chemicals to avoid,Ā see our chart.
When it comes to material shapes, Acetal and DelrinĀ both have good stiffness and toughness grades.Ā However, Delrin has slightly higher mechanical properties. Yet it should be known that the extrusion process for Delrin suffers from centerline porosity in sheets. Generally, Delrin sheet products are not watertight. Other notable properties areĀ good hydrolytic stability and resiliency.
MACHINABILITY, APPLICATIONS, & AESTHETICS
While designers and engineers use acetal for components in many different industries, those inĀ aerospace, industrial food production, and electrical find the most use out of this material.Ā Known for its electrical insulation properties, we're able to use the material for certain housings that would be unfit to use with other materials.
Due to its low moisture absorption and low friction, we find that acetal/Delrin is a fit material for bushings, gears, bearings, and other moving parts.
Most have witnessed the excellent machinability the materials has as well. Able to work with tight tolerances and be formed into complex shapes, most machinists find it easy to work with acetal without much issue.
Moreover, acetal is available in many colors and varieties, allowing aesthetic choices for consideration when making.
Limitations & Considerations
While it's important to note that while acetal is a good material overall, it does have some limitations.
- AcetalĀ can be sensitive to UV radiationĀ and degrade the material quicker if left to prolonged sunlight exposure.
- ItĀ can be susceptible to stress cracking when in contact with certain materials. To see which,Ā visit our chart here.
ACETAL/DELRIN PLASTIC VIDEOS
Plastic Machining with Acetal/Delrin Plastic transcript