Thursday, May 9, 2013

Acetal Sheet - Premium Engineering Plastic Material

http://www.iplasticsupply.com/materials/acetal-delrin-celcon-basf-pom-pomalux-sheet-rod
Acetal Sheet - Premium Engineering Plastic Material
One of the most popular mechanical plastics is acetal sheet, especially on the West Coast (East Coast favors Nylon Polyamide for some reason). It is a polymer which is generated through the polymerization of formaldehyde. This semi-crystalline engineering plastic was initially used commercially in the 1960s. Due to its numerous advantages, it has been utilized extensively commercially in many applications.

Acetal sheet is rather tough and hard, and it has very good response to machining leaving a smooth, consistent finish. Due to its impressive quality of very low moisture absorption, it is popularly used in the food production marketplace and in other areas where it will regularly come into contact with drinking water, like in the marine marketplace. This is because it does not warp or expand when it comes into contact with drinking water. It has in fact been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and hygienic to use. This plastic is also used in the auto vehicle manufacture marketplace due to its toughness and dimensional stability. With it, designers are able to generate long lasting and durable components.
Dupont Delrin Sheet versus Acetal Sheet

Key capabilities of Acetal (Acetal Copolymer) sheet include high strength, very good resistance to wear and abrasion, excellent dimensional stability, excellent sliding qualities and electrical insulation. Among its qualities include a melting temperature of 165oC, a 100oC maximum long-term temperature and a 130oC maximum short-term temperature. This makes it ideal for use with automated modern day high speed CNC machines generating high quality finished products.

Due to its stability, acetal sheet is used to replace other metallic and steel components in engineering. It remains accurate for a long time generating good dimensional stability. That is why it is very popular in the marine marketplace as many other materials are unable to perform well in limitless boating applications as acetal sheet does.

Acetal or Delrin sheets are normally offered in various dimensions for particular person desires. But it is popularly offered in 24 inches X 48 inched and 48" X 120" sheet sizes. It also comes in thickness varying involving .030 inch and over an amazing 6.0 inches thick. This plastic can be cut rather well employing prevalent slicing equipment, the most common would be CNC machining.
Both Delrin and Acetal Sheets have excellent physical properties

This engineering plastic also comes in two popular grades. The most prevalent grade is the co-polymer grade which is also most popular. This is because of its relatively greater chemical resistance which makes it ideal for use in food production industries.

The other and better known name is the homopolymer, this is the Dupont Delrin resin, whose thermal expansion is lower. It is stiff and hard making it ideal for use in specific areas. This grade is a bit more expensive and has limited size availability range. The other issue with the Delrin Homopolymer is the center-line porosity, or "soft centers" some times found in these sheets and rods.

In addition to the applications already mentioned, Delrin - Acetal sheet can be used in a large cross-section of applications in other areas. For example it can be used on wear pads. This is because of its unique low friction coefficient, or high slip surface. In slide ways drag, this would be a disadvantage. At the same time, long term service would be a normal expectation. When employing this type of plastic, the cost versus value ratio is very high. The exceptional value in use is dramatically higher than the relativley low cost.

It can also be used for jigs and tooling blanks. This is because it is rather secure and does not absorb a lot of moisture. This would make jigs that are made employing acetal sheet to be secure and beneficial for a long period of time.

With so many beneficial qualities, Delrin - Acetal sheet remains one of the most popular engineering plastics of all instances.

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