Acetal Plastic: Uses and Benefits

Various types of plastics are used in our day-to-day lives. From electrical appliances to furniture pieces, plastic is an essential material in many things we use. However, many manufacturers and customers now prefer acetal plastics over other types. Let us see why that is the case.

What Is Acetal Plastic?

Acetal plastic or polyoxy-methylene is a thermoplastic that is a lot similar to nylon and high-density polyethylene. The structure and composition of this plastic make it very strong and durable. Furthermore, acetal plastic has the ability to be heated, cooled and reformed without any degradation in quality. This property of acetal plastics makes them reusable and environmentally friendly. 

Many people now prefer to use acetal plastic owing to the current need to reuse and recycle. Due to its reusability, durability and strength, this plastic has numerous uses and benefits.

Basic Types of Acetal Plastics Based on Their Form and Composition

Acetal Homopolymer

This type of polymer consists of repeated monomer units. This plastic is slightly rigid and has a high operating temperature tolerance.

Acetal Copolymer

Unlike homopolymers, acetal copolymer comprises different monomer units, which further constitute a polymer structure. Due to this variation in monomers, this plastic is more stable and has a bit more abrasion resistance.

Uses of Acetal Plastic

There are various uses of acetal plastics in many fields of daily use. Acetal plastic has excellent qualities and a favourable structure for making it reusable. This is why it is used in many application areas. Here are a few examples of where acetal plastic is used.

• Machinery parts

• Automotive parts

• Bearings

• Electrical equipment

• Gaskets

• Medical devices

• Clothing zippers

• Construction

• Lock systems

• Food equipment

• Plumbing parts and fixtures

• Lawn equipment

• Washer

• Conveyor belts

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These are only a few applications of acetal plastics, and there are many other applications that we may not even notice since most of the parts made of acetal plastics are usually very small. 

McNeall Plastics can be a great choice if you are looking for good quality acetal plastic. We manufacture our products according to Australian standards and ensure that your expectations are fulfilled and exceeded in abrasion resistance, strength, weight holding and more. To further answer the question ‘what is acetal plastic’, we will look at the benefits of using this plastic type.

Benefits of Acetal Plastics

The reason why acetal plastic is so beneficial is its structure and dimensions. Given its specific arrangement of monomers, acetal plastic is hard and durable, but it is still very easy to machine and shape due to its resistance to changes.

Let us take a look at the benefits of using acetal plastic.

Dimensional Stability

Acetal plastic is resistant to changes in form due to high temperatures or changes in shape. This is due to its dimensional stability. With this property, acetal plastic is largely used in medical implant devices and aerospace parts.

Perfect External Strength and Hardness

Acetal plastic has the perfect strength and stiffness. This means that it can hold heavy loads and resist high pressure, yet it is not as brittle or hard as it will break. Hence, acetal plastic is excellent for holding weights and enduring pressure.

Very Low Friction

Materials that cause less friction are less likely to wear out and can improve the working efficiency of a machine. Acetal plastic has very low friction; hence, it can be used for high-load applications that need heat and friction resistance.

Resistance to Moisture and Dryness Damage

In machines that are prone to moisture, their parts are at risk of being damaged due to moisture and rust. However, acetal plastic is inherently resistant to moisture damage. This property is beneficial for machines that are kept in moisture-rich areas. Furthermore, dryness does not damage the material since it does not crack in arid conditions. These qualities allow the use of acetal plastic in any weather conditions.

McNeall Plastics: Helping Businesses Through Plastic Engineering and Manufacturing

The answer to the question ‘what is acetal plastic’ lies in the qualities it possesses and the benefits it offers. It has qualities that make it resistant to pressure, abrasion, friction, moisture and dryness damage. Hence, it is preferred by many industries over other plastics.

When it comes to industry-grade acetal plastic, you can leave all your worries to the experts at McNeall Plastics. We are one of the leading names in the plastic manufacturing industry due to our massive scale of operation and thousands of happy customers.