What is POM?
POM is an engineering thermoplastic with good wear resistance, low friction and high dimensional stability. Due to its properties, the material is often used for components that need to withstand mechanical stress, repeated movement and tight tolerances. But what actually is POM, and when is the material most suitable?
What is POM plastic?
POM is an abbreviation for polyoxymethylene, also called polyoxymethylene in English. The material, which is sometimes also known by the trade names Acetal or Delrin, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic characterised by a combination of rigidity, strength and good friction and wear properties. It is these properties that make POM a common choice when a plastic component needs to function reliably under mechanical stress and in applications with moving parts.
Carlsson & Möller offers POM in several grades for different types of applications and requirements. Feel free to read more about POM and polyoxymethylene in our plastics range.
What Properties Does POM Have?
Some of the key POM properties are:
- Low friction – well suited to components with sliding or moving parts.
- Good durability – withstands repeated mechanical stress and movement.
- Dimensional stability – finished components can be manufactured with tight tolerances.
- High rigidity – provides stable and dimensionally stable components.
- Good mechanical properties – the material combines strength, rigidity and fatigue strength, amongst other things.
- Good moisture and chemical resistance - POM can be used in many different environments.
However, the material has certain limitations that need to be factored into the design. For example, POM is affected by strong mineral acids and UV radiation in its unpigmented state. Therefore, the correct material choice should always be based on the specific application and its requirements.
Different types of POM
There are several types of POM, with POM-C and POM-H being two common variants.
- POM-C plastic is a copolymer and has a good combination of toughness, stiffness, fatigue resistance and creep resistance. This grade also has good moisture and chemical resistance and can be used over a relatively wide temperature range.
- POM-H plastic is a homopolymer and offers slightly better mechanical properties than POM-C. However, the properties can diminish after prolonged use, and the material is less suitable in, for example, hot water or at elevated temperatures.
Which variant is most suitable therefore depends on, among other things, load, temperature, chemical exposure and the requirements placed on the finished component.
What is POM used for?
Examples of application areas for POM are:
- Plain bearing
- Gears
- Impeller and pump housing
- Precision engineering components
- Sliding components
- Other precision details
The material's good dimensional stability and friction properties make it particularly suitable for components that are to move against other surfaces or maintain precise dimensions over time.
When is POM suitable as an engineering plastic?
As mentioned, POM can be a good choice when a design demands, for example, wear resistance, low friction, rigidity, and dimensional stability. The material is particularly interesting for components subject to repeated movement or mechanical stress.
When choosing POM, however, the entire operating environment needs to be taken into account. Load, temperature, friction, wear, chemical exposure and expected service life are some factors that can influence which material is best suited.
Carlsson & Möller helps companies analyse requirements and select materials based on mechanical, thermal, physical and chemical conditions, among other things.
POM across different industries
POM is used, for example, in the machine and engineering industry, in pumps, transport solutions and other technical constructions with moving components.
At Carlsson & Möller, we work with engineering plastics across a wide range of industries, offering material selection, application expertise and machining. We can also provide materials tailored to specific industry requirements, such as food-grade qualities.
Read more about engineering plastics for industry here.
Do you need help choosing the right plastic material?
Choosing the right engineering plastic is about more than just comparing the technical properties of the materials. The finished component needs to function in its specific environment and meet both technical and economic requirements.
At Carlsson & Möller we have extensive experience in working with engineering plastics, and we help throughout the entire process – from material selection and development to prototypes, machining and finished components.
Do not hesitate to contact us for advice on POM or other engineering plastics!
