P.B.A Industrial Supplies - Choosing the correct plastic material (POM)

Field of Application

POM is uded in almost all sectors of industry. Foodstuff companies especially, use POM for many tasks as the material has good mechanical characteristics and is also very easy to clean. POM is used whenever there is a need for great strength, elasticity, and dimensional stability.

Characteristics

POM is characterized by its:

Excellent combination of hardness, stiffness and ductility.
High fatigue resistance.
Poor creep characteristics.
Favourable friction and wearing abilities with an ideal surface.
Precision and dimensional stability.
Usage within a wide temperature range.
Resistance to certain chemicals.

POM should not be used:

Strong mineral acids and oxidizing chemicals.
Ultraviolet light (sunlight).
Excessively abrasive substances.

Mechanical

POM is a stiff, hard, springy material which despite its hardness, is characterized by high impact resistance.

Thermal

POM has a field of application within the following range of temperatures (-45°C to +95°C).

Physiological

Products made of POM can receive BGA (Germany) and FDA approval (USA) (note that free formaldehyde can occur in POM).

Chemical Resistance

POM is resistant to most hydrocarbons (ex. alchol, petrol, ether and other fuels and oil, but not to strong mineral acids and oxidizing chemcials.

Weather and Ultraviolet Stability

POM is unstable when exposed to ultraviolet light, but some black, especially stabilized types, can be used outside.

Fire

Due to the presence of oxygen in its molecular structure, POM is relatively easy to ignite. Its blue flame is almost indiscernible. There is no smoke and the smell is reminiscent of formaldehyde. Ignition point is 375°C

	This page is best viewed at a resolution of
	with