Thursday, 23 May 2013

Dupont Delrin Sheet - High Quality Machinable Plastic Material

http://www.iplasticsupply.com/materials/acetal-delrin-celcon-basf-pom-pomalux-sheet-rod
Dupont Delrin Sheet - High Quality Machinable Plastic Material
One of the most widely used mechanical plastics is acetal sheet, especially on the West Coast (East Coast favors Nylon Polyamide for some reason). It is a polymer which is produced through the polymerization of formaldehyde. This semi-crystalline machinable material was initially used commercially in the 1960s. Due to its numerous advantages, it has been used extensively commercially in a vast range of 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 frequently come into contact with h2o, like in the marine marketplace. This is because it does not warp or expand when it comes into contact with h2o. It has in fact been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and hygienic for food contact. This plastic is also used in the motor vehicle manufacture marketplace due to its toughness and dimensional stability. With it, designers are able to produce long lasting and durable components.
Dupont Homopolymer Sheet versus Acetal Sheet

Key capabilities of Acetal (Delrin Homopolymer) sheet include high strength, very good resistance to wear and abrasion, very good dimensional stability, excellent sliding properties and electrical insulation. Among its properties 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 common high speed CNC machines producing 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 producing good dimensional stability. That is why it is very popular in the marine marketplace as many other materials are unable to perform well in many boating applications as acetal sheet does.

Acetal or Delrin sheets are normally offered in various dimensions for person desires. But it is popularly offered in 24 inches X 48 inched and 48" X 120" sheet sizes. It also comes in thickness which range involving .030 inch and over an amazing 6.0 inches thick. This plastic can be cut rather well employing prevalent slicing instruments, 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 Dupont 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 very many 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 might 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 steady and does not absorb a lot of moisture. This would make jigs that are made employing acetal sheet to be steady and useful for a long period of time.

With so many useful properties, Delrin - Acetal sheet remains one of the most popular engineering plastics of all occasions.

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