Delrin Material Properties, Applications, and More

Delrin Material Properties 

Delrin, a plastic that goes by several names, is used in everything from automobiles and medical equipment to household goods and computer devices. Because of its high strength and durability, it is frequently used for mechanical components like gears, fittings, and bearings, and it is also put to use in outdoor settings due to its resistance to water and heat.

This article will explore the history, chemical make-up, and useful features of the substance known as Delrin, as well as its production process and wide range of applications.

Delrin: what is it?

Delrin is a trademark for polyoxymethylene (POM), a thermoplastic used extensively in engineering. Common names for this plastic include acetal, polyacetal, and polytrioxane. [1]

It was in the 1920s that German chemist Hermann Staudinger and physicist Gustav Mie made the groundbreaking discovery of the polymer POM. However, it took several decades after the groundbreaking discovery for POM to enter the commercial market. [2] DuPont, an industrial chemical company, accomplished this goal by synthesizing the thermoplastic in the early 1950s, receiving a patent in 1956, and beginning mass production in 1960 under the brand name Delrin. 

Delrin has many desirable properties, including high strength, minimal friction, dimensional stability, and resilience to high temperatures. Injection moulding, machining, and even 3D printing have all been found useful because of their mix of characteristics and outstanding processability. Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, wear resistance, and tensile strength, the polymer is employed widely across various sectors.

Delrin is a plastic with the chemical formula (CH2O)n. It is a homopolymer because it is made up of identical units of the same monomer, in this case, acetal. In particular, Delrin is “one of the most crystalline engineering thermoplastics available,” according to DuPont, and its crystalline structure is responsible for the material’s exceptional mechanical qualities.

Do you know the characteristics of Delrin?

In a nutshell, Delrin is lauded for its high-quality mechanical and thermal qualities, as well as its resistance to chemicals, low moisture absorption, and high electrical insulation. Acetal homopolymer has improved tensile strength, fatigue endurance, impact strength, creep resistance, and stiffness over acetal copolymers. DuPont claims that the combination of these characteristics opens up new possibilities for “thinner, lighter-weight parts” and metal replacement applications. [4] First, let’s have a look at the mechanical qualities of Delrin. 

Mechanical characteristics of Delrin

• Delrin has no yield point at room temperature and a tensile strength of 10,000 psi.
• It is also very stiff, with a flexural modulus of 410,000 psi
• Delrin has a break elongation of 10–40%.
• High fatigue resistance is demonstrated by the material’s ability to tolerate 5,000 psi of cyclic compressive and tensile stressing.
• The absence of friction is also important. The coefficient of friction between steel and delrin ranges from 0.1 to 0.3. The low friction of the material is very stable throughout a wide range of temperatures, stresses, and other situations
• Superb durability, toughness, and resilience to wear and tear.
• Delrin is well-suited for use in damp or humid conditions due to its minimal water absorption. 

Thermal characteristics of Delrin

• Delrin has a wide temperature tolerance, functioning between -40 and 90 degrees Celsius.
• Delrin’s tensile strength of 2,000 psi and flexural modulus of 180,000 are unaffected by temperatures up to 90 °C.
• Delrin retains 80% of its impact resistance even when cooled to -40 °C, compared to a loss of 80% at normal temperature. [5]
• Delrin does not become significantly more brittle as the temperature drops.
• Delrin can operate normally at temperatures up to 65 °C when submerged in water.

Delrin’s chemical make-up

• Delrin is very resistant to both neutral chemicals and organic solvents. 
• The material’s resistance to chemicals improves with temperatures below 70 °C.

• Delrin is likewise very unlikely to change colour over time
• The UV resistance of some of the newest Delrin grades is significantly higher.

Properties of electricity in Delrin

• Delrin is a fantastic insulator since its dielectric characteristics are stable throughout a broad temperature range and in the presence of moisture.  
• Delrin is an excellent insulator because of its low dissipation coefficients. 
• Delrin has an HB (horizontal burning) flammability rating according to UL94.

Video 01: What is Made From Delrin® Plastic? | Emco Plastics