Acetal Copolymer resin is used in applications requiring a combination of strength, low moisture absorption, chemical resistance and dimensional stability. It's also used for high-performance engineering components. Acetal Copolymer is widely used in the consumer electronics industry and the automotive industry.
Acetal copolymers have high tensile and flexuralstrength, fatigue resistance, and hardness.Lubricity is excellent. They retain much of theirtoughness through a broad temperature range and are among the most creep resistant of thecrystalline thermoplastics. Moisture absorptionis low, permitting molded parts to serve reliablyin environments involving humidity changes.
Industrial and automotive applications of acetalcopolymer include gears, cams, bushings, clips,lugs, door handles, window cranks, housings,and seat-belt components. Plumbing productssuch as valves, valve stems, pumps, faucets, andimpellers utilize the lubricity and corrosion andhot water resistance of the copolymer. Mechanicalcomponents that require dimensional stability,such as watch gears, conveyor links,aerosols, and mechanical pen and pencil parts,are other uses. Applications for the FDAapprovedgrades include milk pumps, coffeespigots, filter housings, and food conveyors.Parts that require greater load-bearing stabilityat elevated temperatures, such as cams, gears,television tuner arms, and automotive underhoodcomponents, are molded from glass-fiberreinforcedgrades.
More costly acetal copolymer has excellentload-bearing characteristics for long-lastingplastic springs. To boost resin performance,engineers use fillers, reinforcing fibers,and additives. Although there are automotiveuses for large fiber-reinforced composite leafsprings, unfilled resins are the better candidatesfor small springs. Glass fibers increasestiffness and strength, but they also limitdeflection. And impact modifiers reduce modulusand make plastics more flexible butdecrease creep resistance.
