Polymers: Polyoxymethylene
Though its chemical name is polyoxymethylene (POM) this polymer is also known as acetal, polyacetal, and, occasionally, polyformaldehyde. It is a thermoplastic sold under a variety of trades names such as Delrin, Duracon, and Ramtal.
POM is a hard, colorless polymer often used for its high stiffness, low friction, and good dimensional stability. It can be colored to adjust its appearance however one desires, and is relatively easy to machine. Some disadvantages of POM include the fact that it burns fairly easily and is not very resistant to chemical attack by acidic or alkaline materials. POM is most commonly created using the injection molding process.
These polymers are available in homopolymer and copolymer varieties, both typically made with formaldehyde as one of the starting ingredients. The homopolymer variety (POM-H) is more crystalline than the copolymer (POM-C) and therefore has a higher strength. POM-C, however, is more chemically resistant.
Applications of POM are many and varied and include the following: mechanical gears, insulators, model parts, yo-yos, hinges, guitar picks, zippers, and some paintball accessories, among other things. It’s strength means that sometimes it is used as a direct replacement for certain applications that would usually use metals.
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