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Chemical property Details

Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 10:46 am
Injection molded parts made of abrasion resistant POM engineering plastic
This guide provides an overview of POM, its properties, applications and processing possibilities, to help designers and manufacturers use this material effectively.

What is POM plastic?
Technical definition
POM, or polyoxymethylene, is a crystalline thermoplastic polymer resulting from the polymerization of formaldehyde. ASTM D1600 defines POM as having high crystallinity, molding and extrusion properties, high mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and resistance to wear and fatigue.

The production of POM plastic essentially involves polymerizing formaldehyde molecules into long-chain polymers, resulting in a material with exceptional performance.

POM plastic pellets
Types of POM
POM exists in two main forms:

POM Homopolymer: Derived solely from the polymerization of formaldehyde monomers, this form offers excellent mechanical properties, high rigidity and exceptional dimensional stability.
POM copolymer: Produced by copolymerizing formaldehyde with a small amount of comonomer, usually an acetaldehyde derivative. This form has better resistance to thermal degradation, better chemical resistance, and better resistance to hydrolysis compared to POM homopolymer.
Main characteristics and properties of POM
Physical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Physical property Details
Density The density is 1400 kg/m³, which contributes to its strength and durability while being lightweight.
Chemical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Category Thermoplastic, offering versatility in various hot database applications.
Water absorption Absorbs 0.2% water by weight per day, ensuring dimensional stability in humid environments.
Thermal properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Thermal property Details
Melting point Melts at 175°C, allowing for applications involving moderate heat.
Thermal conductivity Conducts heat at 0.37 W/mK, indicating moderate thermal conduction.
Specific heat capacity (Cp) The specific heat capacity is 1464 J/kg-K, useful in thermal management applications.
Coefficient of thermal expansion (αL) Its coefficient of thermal expansion is 8.5×10^-5 1/°C, indicating that it expands with temperature.
Electrical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Electrical property Details
Relative permittivity (@1 MHz) It has a relative permittivity of 3.8, which indicates good insulating properties.
Electrical resistivity It has a high electrical resistivity of 10^15 Ω-cm, making it an excellent insulator.
Dielectric field (Ed) Has a dielectric field of 200 kV/cm, ensuring strong electrical insulation.
Mechanical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Mechanical property Details
Ultimate tensile strength Can withstand tensile stresses between 69 and 83 MPa, suitable for high stress applications.
Elastic limit The yield strength is between 65 and 69 MPa, which indicates the onset of plastic deformation.
Ultimate compressive strength Can withstand compressive stresses up to 110 MPa, ideal for structural applications.
Young's modulus (E) The modulus of elasticity ranges from 2.9 to 3.2 GPa, which indicates stiffness and rigidity.
Flexural modulus The flexural modulus is between 2.41 and 3.10 GPa, indicating flexural strength.
Elongation at break Exhibits an elongation at break of 40% to 75%, demonstrating flexibility prior to breakage.
Rockwell Hardness (R) Rockwell hardness of 120, measuring the resistance of the surface to indentation.
Advantages and limitations of polyoxymethylene (POM)