Delrin Material Properties Offer Strong, Versatile Plastic Alternative to Metal
Working with Protolabs gives engineers access to hundreds of injection moulding materials across multiple grades of engineering thermoplastics, metals and elastomers. Customer supplied material is supported for injection moulding projects, although most customers select from our stocked materials.
In outsourced manufacturing for engineers, material selection balances mechanical and thermal properties, manufacturability, surface finish and cost.
What is Delrin?
Delrin is an acetal homopolymer, also known as polyoxymethylene (POM-H). It is a popular engineering plastic we provide for injection moulding and CNC machining.
Delrin is an excellent metal replacement due to its high tensile strength, low friction, high wear resistance, resistance to creep and warpage, and overall durability and toughness. It has low moisture absorption and chemical resistance to hydrocarbons, solvents and neutral chemicals.
Delrin is Ideal for Industrial Applications
These properties make Delrin suitable for a wide range of industrial and mechanical components. It is well suited to moist or wet environments, including pump and valve components. Common uses include gears, bearings, bushings, rollers, fittings and electrical insulator parts.
For reference, here are key Delrin material properties.
| Material | Tensile Strength | Impact Strength | Heat Deflection | Elongation at Break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delrin | 40 - 150 Mpa | 1.6 - 4.2 KJ/m2 | 80 - 150°C | 10-40% |
More detailed data is available on our website. The Delrin data sheet in our materials comparison guide, sourced from Plastics International, summarises Delrin’s advantages:
- Good dimensional stability
- Excellent machinability
- High impact and creep resistance
- High fatigue endurance
- High strength and stiffness
- Chemical resistance to fuels and solvents
- Low moisture absorption: Delrin operates in wet environments with minimal effect on performance or dimensions
- Good wear and abrasion resistance. With a low coefficient of friction and a hard, resilient surface, Delrin suits many wear applications.
- Natural grade is FDA, NSF and USDA compliant
The Delrin data sheet and the Delrin 577 data sheet include charts of Delrin’s physical, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, which are important to consider.
Recent examples of Delrin applications include Opus KSD, which used Delrin for prototypes of its SubQ It! surgical tool, and Bog Street LLC, which used Delrin for its LEAP series of guitar picks (see photos).
For manufacturing materials guidance, we offer free CNC machining and injection moulding material selectors, pocket-sized quick reference guides to help you identify the right materials for your next project. These selectors list specific property measurements to ensure you choose the most suitable material and process for your part’s application.
Materials Science is a closer look at manufacturing materials.
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