Delrin & Acetal
Delrin®/Acetal is a widely used mechanical thermoplastic. It offers a unique combination of cost effective properties such as:
- Excellent moisture resistance.
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Very good rigidity & mechanical strength
- Low coefficient of friction
- FDA/USDA/NSF compliant
- Continuous use temperature of 180ºF
Acetal is white in its natural color which makes it ideal in food related applications. It is also available in black. There are 2 basic types of acetal: HOMOPOLYMER and COPOLYMER.
Homopolymer is best known by the trade name Delrin®. It has slightly better mechanical and thermal properties than the copolymer. It is available in the following grades:
Glass-Filled– This increases the stiffness, mechanical properties, and dimensional stability of unfilled acetal.
Delrin AF– This is PTFE (Teflon) filled Delrin. It has better lubricity, a lower coefficient of friction, and better wear resistance. The blend can range from 10% to 20% teflon.
Copolymer has been known in the past by the trade name Celcon® but more recently by the name Ultraform®. It sacrifices some thermal and mechanical properties when compared to the homopolymer, but carries an important advantage. Copolymer does not exhibit any “center line porosity” that is common in the homopolymer.
