At One Place

POM (acetal / Delrin)

Density of POM (acetal / Delrin)
1,410 kg/m³ (1,400–1,420)
1.41 g/cm³ · 88.0 lb/ft³

The plastic engineers reach for when a part must be machined to size and stay there: unlike nylon it barely absorbs water, so a POM gear cut in a dry workshop still fits in a damp one. It is stiff, slippery and fatigue-resistant, which is why plastic gear trains default to it. Two catches: it cannot be glued reliably by any common adhesive, and it depolymerizes if overheated, releasing formaldehyde — machine it cool and never leave it sitting in a hot barrel.

Properties

Density
1,410 kg/m³ (1,400–1,420) — 1.41 g/cm³
Melting range
165–175 °C
Tensile strength
60–75 MPa
Young's modulus
3 GPa
Thermal conductivity
0.31 W/(m·K)
Thermal expansion
110 µm/(m·K)
Floats in water
No
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Gears, cams and bushings
  • Zip fastener sliders and buckles
  • Fuel system and pump components
  • Machined precision parts

How it compares

Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.

air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
POM (acetal / Delrin) 1,410 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.
Material Density Relative to water
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³ 0.04×
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³ 0.02×
air 1.2 kg/m³ 0.00×
POM (acetal / Delrin) ← 1,410 kg/m³ 1.41×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

POM (acetal / Delrin) contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

Is it magnetic?

POM (acetal / Delrin) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of POM (acetal / Delrin)?
1,410 kg/m³ (1,400–1,420), or 1.41 g/cm³.
Does POM (acetal / Delrin) float?
No. At 1,410 kg/m³ it is denser than water.
Is POM (acetal / Delrin) magnetic?
POM (acetal / Delrin) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked