Delrin

Delrin is widely used in applications that demand high strength, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability. Its rigidity and wear resistance make it ideal for precision mechanical components. Common applications include: Gears, sprockets, and mechanical linkages Used for smooth, low-friction motion and long service life. Bearings, bushings, and rollers Excellent for parts requiring low wear and consistent performance. Electrical and electronic components Switch housings, connectors, insulation parts, and coil formers. Automotive components Fuel system parts, door mechanisms, seat belt components, and throttle bodies. Industrial and machinery parts Valve components, pump parts, conveyor parts, and tooling fixtures. Consumer and household products Zippers, appliance components, locks, fasteners, and kitchenware mechanisms. Medical & healthcare devices (non-implant) Inhaler components, testing equipment housings, and precision instruments. Delrin is preferred in these applications for its durability, stability under load, and resistance to wear, moisture, and chemicals.

Delrin exhibits high surface hardness for an engineering plastic. Its hardness typically falls in the range of: Rockwell Hardness (M Scale): 80–90 HRM Rockwell Hardness (R Scale): 120–125 HRR Delrin maintains its hardness even under moderate load and temperature, making it suitable for gears, bushings, and precision mechanical parts. It offers excellent wear resistance and retains dimensional stability over long-term use.

Heat Treatment Delrin does not undergo traditional heat treatment like metals. However, certain thermal processes are used to improve stability and performance: Stress Relieving: Delrin components are often heated to 120–150°C for several hours to relieve internal stresses created during machining or molding. This helps reduce warping and dimensional changes. Annealing: Annealing Delrin at 100–120°C improves dimensional stability and reduces internal stress buildup. Parts are gradually heated, held at temperature, and slowly cooled. No Hardening Capability: Delrin cannot be hardened by heat treatment; its hardness is inherent to the polymer structure. Overall, heat treatment for Delrin focuses on stress relief and stabilization, not modifying hardness or strength.

Delrin cannot be hardened by any heat-treating or quenching process, unlike metals. Its hardness is determined by its polymer molecular structure, and no post-processing method can significantly increase it. However, the following methods can slightly improve surface durability: Cold Work Hardening (Minor Effect): Light surface compression or burnishing can create a small increase in surface density, offering marginal improvement in wear resistance. Additive-Based Hardness Improvement: Filled grades such as glass-filled POM or PTFE-filled POM offer higher stiffness and improved surface properties, but this is achieved during material formulation—not through hardening after manufacturing. In summary, Delrin cannot be hardened, and any performance improvements must come through material selection or design, not heat processes.

Delrin is not easy to weld, but it can be joined using specific plastic-welding techniques: Suitable Welding Methods Hot Gas Welding: Uses a controlled stream of hot air to melt Delrin surfaces and a POM filler rod. Works but requires skill to avoid thermal degradation. Friction Welding (Spin or Ultrasonic): Very effective for Delrin. High-frequency vibration melts the joint interface, creating a strong bond. Laser Welding: Possible if one part is laser-transparent and the other is laser-absorbent. Limitations Delrin has a narrow melting range, making it prone to thermal degradation if overheated. It releases formaldehyde fumes when overheated, so proper ventilation is required. Bond strengths are typically lower than the base material. Not Recommended Methods Chemical welding or solvent welding is ineffective because Delrin is chemically resistant, and solvents cannot dissolve or bond it.

Delrin offers excellent machinability, making it one of the easiest engineering plastics to machine with high precision. It behaves similarly to soft metals like brass. Key Machining Characteristics High Dimensional Stability: Maintains tight tolerances and resists warping during machining. Low Friction & Self-Lubricating: Machines smoothly without excessive heat buildup. Good Chip Formation: Produces small, manageable chips that do not clog tools. Minimal Tool Wear: Cutting tools last longer due to low abrasion. Best Machining Practices Use sharp carbide tools for best surface finish. Maintain moderate cutting speeds and light feeds. Compressed air or light coolant helps prevent thermal expansion. For very tight tolerances, parts may be stress-relieved before final machining. Machinability Rating Often considered to have machinability close to 80–90% (relative to free-cutting brass = 100%). Delrin is ideal for precision parts like gears, bushings, rollers, and mechanical components due to its outstanding machinability.

We supply premium-quality Delrin (POM-H) materials in various forms such as sheets, rods, blocks, and precision-machined components. Available in multiple grades including Delrin 150, 500, 900, and custom-engineering grades based on application requirements. Bulk orders, custom sizes, CNC-machined parts, and industrial supply contracts can be arranged as per customer needs. Material is sourced from reputable global manufacturers to ensure high performance, consistency, and reliability.