Page 103 - Engineering Plastics Handbook

Chapter
5

Polyacetals*

James M. Margolis †
Margolis Polymers
Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada

Introduction
Polyacetals, also referred to as polyoxymethylenes (POMs) or polyformalde-
hydes, are a semicrystalline engineering thermoplastic polymerized as a
homopolymer and copolymer. The homopolymer and copolymer have some-
what different molecular structures and performance values. The differ-
ence between performance values is narrowing with new formulations
(compounds). Polyacetal engineering thermoplastics were introduced to the
world in 1956 with the potential of replacing metals, aluminum, brass, and
cast zinc, which polyacetals continue to do.
Primary polyacetal resin producers, custom compounders, and dis-
tributors are shown in Table 5.1.
The Asahi Kasai Corporation (50%) and DuPont China Holding
Company (50%) joint venture produces acetal copolymer at Zhangjiagang,
Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China, to sell jointly in China and
separately outside China. Mitsubishi Gas Company produces acetal
copolymer in south Korea, Japan, and Thailand. PTM Engineering

*The chapter author, editors, publisher, and companies referred to are not responsible
for the use or accuracy of information in this chapter, such as property data, processing
parameters, and applications.
†
Author can be contacted at margolispolymers1@verizon.net or by writing him at
Margolis Polymers, 40 Twilight Avenue, Keansburg, New Jersey 07734 USA.
77
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