POM (Polyoxymethylene, Acetal)
Also called: Polyoxymethylene, acetal, polyacetal
POM (acetal) is a stiff, low-friction engineering plastic used for gears, clips and precision parts, recycled mainly from moulding scrap.
Polyoxymethylene (POM), commonly called acetal, is a highly crystalline engineering plastic with excellent stiffness, dimensional stability, low friction and wear resistance. It is supplied as homopolymer or copolymer. Its density is about 1.41-1.42 g/cm3. It falls under resin code 7 (other).
Recycled forms traded
- Post-industrial moulding rejects and runners from precision parts.
- Extruded rod and sheet machining chips.
- POM regrind and recycled granules, often in natural or black.
Why it matters when buying recycled plastic
- POM must not be mixed with PVC; together they can decompose and release harmful gases during processing.
- Overheating POM releases formaldehyde, so processing temperatures need control. Ask how the material has been reprocessed.
- Clean, single-source post-industrial scrap is far more reliable than mixed lots; check contamination carefully.
- Check MFI against your part design.
Common uses
Gears, bearings, clips, fasteners, zipper parts, conveyor components, automotive fuel system parts and appliance mechanisms, mostly by injection moulding.
Because POM degrades quickly when mishandled, buy from suppliers who keep it separate from other plastics and can describe how it was stored and processed.