Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM POM

CH2O (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)

Polyoxymethylene (POM), also called acetal and sold as Delrin, is a semicrystalline engineering thermoplastic sold as a homopolymer or a copolymer.

10 sources · Updated 2026-10-18 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

5 of 5

Flown or field-proven

Stiff moulding grade

2700 MPa tensile modulus

Heat under load

101 °C HDT at 1.80 MPa

Survive in orbit

9.14e-24 cm3/atom

Recipe, share of the weight

  • C 40.0%Carbon
  • H 6.7%Hydrogen
  • O 53.3%Oxygen

Best for

Stiff, dimensionally stable moulded parts: a 2700 MPa tensile modulus and 64 MPa yield stress in the C 13021 FC copolymer grade

Weakest at

Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit: an erosion yield of 9.14e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2

Risk at a glance

  • People Low. Formaldehyde hazard
  • If it fails Severe. Chlorine attack
  • Corrosion Severe. Chlorine attacks acetal at 3 to 5 ppm and higher, so long-term continuous exposure is not recommended.

Quick facts: POM

Key properties of POM
PropertyValueBasis
Density1.41 to 1.42 g/cm³3 sourced values across conditions
Thermal expansion (CTE)100 ppm/K1 sourced value
Melting point165 to 178 °C3 sourced values across conditions

What is the density of Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM?

Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM has a density of 1.41 to 1.42 g/cm³. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM?

Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 100 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the melting point of Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM?

Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM has a melting point of 165 to 178 °C. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is Polyoxymethylene (acetal), POM used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Gears and drive trains; Zippers and thin-section parts; Fasteners and snap-fits.

Why it exists

Polyoxymethylene is a semicrystalline engineering thermoplastic. The two Hostaform copolymer grades read here have a density of 1410 kg/m3 and melting temperatures of 165 °C (C 2521) and 166 °C (C 13021 FC) at 10 °C/min. Their tensile moduli are 2600 MPa and 2700 MPa.

Where it's used

Gears and drive trains

DuPont lists DELRIN 100 for gears and DELRIN 500CL for gears, drive trains and sliding devices.

Zippers and thin-section parts

DuPont lists DELRIN 900P, a low-viscosity grade for thin sections, for consumer electronics parts and zippers.

Fasteners and snap-fits

DuPont lists DELRIN 500 for snap-fits, fasteners and gears, and DELRIN 100T for fasteners and seat belt systems.

Recipe

CH2O (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)

Polyoxymethylene is a chain of repeating CH2O units, made from formaldehyde. The homopolymer is end-capped to stabilise it; the copolymer contains about 1 to 1.5 percent CH2CH2O units along the chain (Wikipedia, composition only; key wiki-pom).

What POM is made of
IngredientAtoms per unitShare of the weightWhat it does
Carbon C 1 40.0% One carbon per CH2O repeat unit, part of the backbone.
Hydrogen H 2 6.7% Two hydrogens per CH2O repeat unit.
Oxygen O 1 53.3% One ether oxygen per CH2O repeat unit, joining the backbone.

Weight shares are calculated from standard atomic weights.

What it can do

Stiff moulding grade

2700 MPa tensile modulus

measured

Hostaform C 13021 FC has a tensile modulus of 2700 MPa and a yield stress of 64 MPa under ISO 527, as printed on its datasheet page.

Heat under load

101 °C HDT at 1.80 MPa

measured

Hostaform C 2521 has a temperature of deflection under load of 101 °C at 1.80 MPa, ISO 75-1/-2, as printed on its datasheet page.

Survive in orbit

9.14e-24 cm3/atom

measured

NASA lists a MISSE 2 erosion yield for polyoxymethylene of 9.14e-24 cm3/atom, in Table I.

How it compares

The two grades are read from one database, so compare the rows as examples for these two Hostaform grades, not as a ranking of all POM.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementPOM
Thermal behavior and safety
Melting temperature, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)165 °C2
Temperature of deflection under load (HDT), Hostaform C 2521ISO 75-1/-2, as printed on the datasheet101 °C
Melting temperature, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)166 °C5
Melting temperature, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 11357-3, as printed on the datasheet178 °C
Heat deflection temperature at 1.8 MPa (unannealed), Delrin 500P NC010ISO 75-2/A, as printed on the datasheet95 °C
Physical and electrical
Density, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)1410 kg/m31
Density, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)1410 kg/m34
Density, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 1183, as printed on the DuPont datasheet1.42 g/cm³
Temperature behavior
Vicat softening temperature, Delrin 500P NC010ISO 306/B50, as printed on the datasheet155 °C
Other measurements
Tensile modulus, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet2600 MPa
Yield stress, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet62 MPa
Nominal strain at break, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet32 %
Charpy notched impact strength at +23 °C, Hostaform C 2521ISO 179/1eA, as printed on the datasheet8.5 kJ/m23
Tensile modulus, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet2700 MPa
Yield stress, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet64 MPa
Nominal strain at break, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)ISO 527, as printed on the datasheet30 %
Charpy notched impact strength at +23 °C, Hostaform C 13021 FCISO 179/1eA, as printed on the datasheet6 kJ/m26
Atomic oxygen erosion yield, POM (MISSE 2)9.14×10^-24 cm³/atom7
Tensile modulus, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 527-2, as printed on the datasheet3100 MPa
Tensile stress at yield, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 527-2, as printed on the datasheet71 MPa
Nominal tensile strain at break, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 527-2, as printed on the datasheet30 %
Flexural modulus, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 178, as printed on the datasheet3000 MPa
Charpy notched impact strength at 23 °C, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)ISO 179/1eA, as printed on the datasheet9 kJ/m28
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, flow direction, Delrin 500P NC0101×10^-4 cm/cm/°C9

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Stiff moulded parts: 2700 MPa tensile modulus and 64 MPa yield stress in Hostaform C 13021 FC, as printed.
  • Known atomic oxygen behaviour: 9.14e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2 in low Earth orbit.

Watch out for

  • Atomic oxygen erodes POM at 9.14e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or a rate allowance.
  • No Delrin homopolymer value was read, so the numbers here are for copolymer grades only.
  • Flexural modulus and Izod impact were not found on the datasheets read.

Polyoxymethylene is a stiff engineering plastic: the two copolymer grades read have a density of 1410 kg/m3, a melting temperature of 165 to 166 °C, and a tensile modulus of 2600 to 2700 MPa. Its MISSE 2 erosion yield of 9.14e-24 cm3/atom is recorded, and no homopolymer Delrin data is in this profile yet.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Density, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)ISO 1183, as printed on the Material Data Center datasheetgrade Hostaform C 2521, POM copolymertemperature not printed on the page—
2Melting temperature, Hostaform C 2521 (copolymer)ISO 11357-1/-3 (DSC), as printed on the datasheetgrade Hostaform C 2521, POM copolymerrate 10 °C/min—
3Charpy notched impact strength at +23 °C, Hostaform C 2521—grade Hostaform C 2521, POM copolymertemperature +23 °Cnotch type A, as printed—
4Density, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)ISO 1183, as printed on the Material Data Center datasheetgrade Hostaform C 13021 FC, POM copolymertemperature not printed on the page—
5Melting temperature, Hostaform C 13021 FC (copolymer)ISO 11357-1/-3 (DSC), as printed on the datasheetgrade Hostaform C 13021 FC, POM copolymerrate 10 °C/min—
6Charpy notched impact strength at +23 °C, Hostaform C 13021 FC—grade Hostaform C 13021 FC, POM copolymertemperature +23 °Cnotch type A, as printed—
7Atomic oxygen erosion yield, POM (MISSE 2)Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples and listed in NASA TM-2008-215490platform ISS, MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1, low Earth orbitfluence 8.43e21 atoms/cm2duration 3.95 years—
8Charpy notched impact strength at 23 °C, Delrin 500P NC010 (homopolymer)—grade Delrin 500P NC010, POM homopolymertemperature 23 °C (73 °F)notch type A, ISO 179/1eA—
9Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, flow direction, Delrin 500P NC010ISO 11359-2, as printed on the datasheet (printed as 1.0E-4 cm/cm/°C)grade Delrin 500P NC010, POM homopolymerdirection flow—

Corrosion and compatibility

What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat happens
Chlorine gas and bleaching fluid severe Chlorine attacks acetal at 3 to 5 ppm and higher, so long-term continuous exposure is not recommended.1
Zinc chloride, and salt water in contact with zinc-plated steel moderate Zinc chloride depolymerises acetal; salt water alone does not affect it.2
Strong acids and strong bases; steam and hot water moderate Service life is reduced by lengthy use in steam, hot water, strong acids or strong bases.3
Hot water and strong caustic or high pH solutions, copolymer against homopolymer low Copolymer acetal resists hot water and strong caustics better than homopolymer, per Alro.4
Sunlight UV (290 to 400 nm), outdoors and through glass moderate Acetal is affected by sunlight; UV-stabilised grades are offered for outdoor and glass-behind use.5
Gamma radiation moderate DuPont gives depolymerisation as the predominant degradation mode under gamma ray dosage.6
Unstressed exposure in air at 60 C, long term low DELRIN 500 keeps a tensile strength above 55 MPa for about 5 years at 60 C.7
Fuels: M-15 gasoline (15 percent methanol) and diesel at 60 C low Standard grades change only slightly after 1500 h in M-15 and hardly at all in diesel.8
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest conditions
1 Chlorine gas and bleaching fluid DuPont states that DELRIN acetal resin is attacked by chlorine at concentrations of 3 to 5 ppm and higher, and is not recommended for long term continuous exposure at these concentrations. Its rating table marks chlorine gas and 10 percent bleaching fluid as unsatisfactory. basis unstressed specimens in continuous exposure; rating table at ambient temperature
2 Zinc chloride, and salt water in contact with zinc-plated steel DuPont says zinc chloride acts to depolymerise (corrode) DELRIN acetal resin, with attack depending on stress, temperature, concentration and time. Salt water alone does not affect it, but salt water with zinc-plated steel can give a slower effect similar to zinc chloride. basis stress, temperature, concentration and time are not quantified in the guide
3 Strong acids and strong bases; steam and hot water DuPont lists steam, hot water, strong acids and strong bases as reducing service life. Its rating table marks hydrochloric acid (10 percent), sulphuric acid (30 percent), nitric acid (10 percent), perchloric acid (10 percent) and phosphoric acid (30 percent) as unsatisfactory, and acetic acid (5 percent) as resistant. basis unstressed specimens at ambient temperature; the guide says intermittent exposure and service stresses can change the result
4 Hot water and strong caustic or high pH solutions, copolymer against homopolymer Alro lists better resistance to hot water and strong caustics, or high pH solutions, as an advantage of acetal copolymer over homopolymer. No temperature, concentration or time is printed. basis comparison of copolymer and homopolymer, no test figures printed
5 Sunlight UV (290 to 400 nm), outdoors and through glass DuPont says acetal resins, like most polymers, are affected by light, particularly sunlight with ultraviolet radiation of 290 to 400 nm. It lists UV-stabilised grades (for example DELRIN 127UV, 527UV and 927UV) with excellent UV resistance and thermal stability, and says the x27UV series suits parts exposed to sunlight through glass. No retention figure is printed. wavelength 290 to 400 nmbasis grade dependent; no dose or retention figure printed
6 Gamma radiation DuPont says that the predominant mode of degradation resulting from gamma ray dosage is depolymerisation. The guide prints no dose figure in the text read. dose not printed in the text read
7 Unstressed exposure in air at 60 C, long term DuPont's long-term exposure curve for unstressed injection-moulded bars in air says DELRIN 500 would keep a tensile strength in excess of 55 MPa for approximately 5 years at 60 C. temperature 60 Cstress none, unstressedgrade DELRIN 500
8 Fuels: M-15 gasoline (15 percent methanol) and diesel at 60 C DuPont aged DELRIN 500 and 500P NC010 for up to 1500 hours at 60 C in M-15, and reports only small changes from slight plastification by fuel absorption. In diesel, bio-diesel and kerosene it reports almost no change in dimensional or mechanical properties after 2000 hours at 60 C. temperature 60 Ctime up to 1500 h in M-15; up to 2000 h in dieselfuel M-15 is regular gasoline with 15 percent methanol

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

POM has no GHS entry in PubChem; the hazard here is formaldehyde, the monomer it is made from.

Classification
Formaldehyde carries H302, H314, H317, H330, H341 and H350 (PubChem aggregated). Chlorine and strong acids are a corrosion risk for parts, not a listed hazard for people.

If it fails

The failure route in these sources is erosion in orbit, measured on one flight sample.

Atomic oxygen
On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 9.14e-24 cm3/atom, from the same NASA report.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbitmoderate severityExposure of a POM part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flightSurface erosion at a yield of 9.14e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2
Chlorine attackcritical severityChlorine gas or bleach at 3 to 5 ppm and higher, in long-term continuous exposureAttack on the acetal; DuPont rates chlorine gas and 10 percent bleaching fluid as unsatisfactory
Zinc chloride depolymerisationmoderate severityZinc chloride, or salt water in contact with zinc-plated steelDepolymerisation (corrosion) of the acetal, depending on stress, temperature, concentration and time
Strong acid or strong base attackmoderate severityLengthy use in strong acids or strong bases, or in steam and hot waterShorter service life; DuPont rates hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric and phosphoric acids at 10 to 30 percent as unsatisfactory
UV degradation in sunlightmoderate severitySunlight UV at 290 to 400 nm on standard grades, outdoors or through glassLight-induced degradation; UV-stabilised grades are offered for this exposure
Gamma radiation depolymerisationmoderate severityGamma ray dosageDuPont gives depolymerisation as the predominant degradation mode

Handling and storage

  • Keep chlorine, bleach and chlorinated water away from stressed parts. DuPont does not recommend long-term continuous exposure at 3 to 5 ppm chlorine and above.
  • Use local extraction where heating or processing may release formaldehyde; the formaldehyde GHS codes above are the reason. No POM-specific release figure was read.

Mitigations

  • For sunlight exposure, choose a UV-stabilised grade such as DELRIN 127UV, 527UV or 927UV, per the DuPont grade list.
  • For hot water or strong caustic service, choose a copolymer grade, which Alro says resists these better than homopolymer.

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Formaldehyde, the feedstock for POM

POM resin, made by polymerisation of formaldehyde

Top producers
Polyplastics (Daicel), Celanese, DuPont