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Description
Delrin, the world’s first acetal resin, is a highly
versatile engineering plastic with metal-like proper-
ties. It offers an excellent balance of desirable
properties that bridge the gap between metals and
ordinary plastics. Since its introduction in 1960,
it has been widely used around the world in many
applications, such as in the automotive, appliance,
construction, hardware, electronic, and consumer
goods industries. Delrin has gained widespread
recognition for its reliability and performance in
thousands of engineering components.
Delrin is the DuPont registered trademark for its
acetal resins. Delrin acetal resin is a crystalline
plastic made by the polymerization of formaldehyde.
Applications
Chemical
• Garden chemical sprayers
• Carburetor venturi
• Pumps and beverage valves
• Farm machinery
• Household water softeners
• Soap dispensers
• Paint mixing paddles, canisters
• Scrubbing discs on power rug cleaners
• Irrigation sprinkler components
Mechanical
• Wear surfaces: many types of bushings,
bearings, cams
• Gears: spur, cluster, helical, bevel, worm
• Conveyors: flat top conveyor chain, wear strips,
conveyor links
• Pump impellers: submersible, gear, centrifugal,
proportioning, reinforced diaphragms, jet well
• Fan and blower blades
• Handles and knobs: automotive window and
marine hardware, auto brake release handles,
knife handles, movie and slide projector knobs
• Springs: tape embossers, cameras, print wheels,
staple removers, drip emitters, tubing clamps
• Fasteners: buckles, zippers, latches
Electrical
• Automotive switches and connectors
• Coil forms
• Telephone terminal strips
• Relay components
• Electrical switch components, buttons, and knobs
• Audio and videotape cartridge platforms and
wear parts
• Electromechanical counter frames
Environmental Conditions
• Hot air: heater blowers, clothes dryers, auto-
motive light sockets, 35 mm slide projector parts
• Water: shower heads, faucet aerators, lawn
sprinklers, hose couplings, water meter
components, garden hose nozzles, toilet flush
valves, and faucet valve cartridges
• Salt water: marine fittings, fishing reels
• Fuels: gas caps, fuel senders/modules, filters
Properties and Characteristics
The chemical composition and highly crystalline
structure of Delrin acetal homopolymers offer a
unique combination of physical properties not
available with metals or most other plastics. The
outstanding characteristics of Delrin resins include:
• High tensile strength, impact resistance, and
stiffness
• Outstanding fatigue endurance
• Excellent resistance to moisture, gasoline,
solvents, and many other neutral chemicals
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Good electrical insulating characteristics
• Good resilience and resistance to creep
• Natural lubricity
• Wide end-use temperature range
The main property limitations are repeated use in
steam or hot water, and exposure to strong acids
or bases outside the pH range of 4–9.
All grades of Delrin are classed as horizontal
burning by Underwriters Laboratories (UL 94).
Mold shrinkage data may be found in the DuPont
Delrin Acetal Resin Molding Guide.
Processing
The most commonly used method for processing
Delrin is injection molding. Extrusion, stamping,
and machining are also used. Parts or stock shapes
can be machined or stamped.
In 1992, DuPont Engineering Polymers introduced
Delrin P performance acetal resin. This new Delrin
resin offers the molder community a revolutionary
new stabilizer technology that allows for wider
processing windows even in the most demand-
ing situations. The excellent thermal stability
of Delrin P resin allows for low mold and screw
deposit, outstanding regrind stability, and minimal
mold corrosion. Delrin P gives a molder an acetal
resin that is easily processed, in addition to having
the ultimate mechanical performance that is associ-
ated with a homopolymer.
General Information