UHMW Vs Delrin: A Comprehensive Comparison

Hello people, the plastic community is full of jargon, which sometimes makes things confusing to understand. Thus, I have done extensive research in order to make a detailed guide on the difference between UHMW and Delrin. So let’s get started.

UHMW VS Delrin

UHMW vs. Delrin is a major question for many plastic manufacturers. Both are high-performance plastic materials with a variety of applications, but how do you choose between them?

UHMW and Delrin are both thermoplastic materials with high strength and low friction properties. UHMW is known for its excellent impact resistance and chemical resistance, while Delrin is known for its high stiffness and dimensional stability. Both materials are commonly used in industrial applications such as gears, bearings, and wear strips.

Let’s see a  detailed differentiation between both plastic materials.

 Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW) 

UHMW is a tough, rigid plastic material with excellent abrasion and wear resistance. It is a subgroup of polyethylene with a longer structure of chains, helping it transfer the polymer backbone’s load and weight more efficiently by toughening intermolecular linkages. It is compatible with high-end industrial applications thanks to its durability, lightweight, chemical resistance, low friction, and one of the highest recorded impact strengths in any thermoplastic material.

UHMW is resistant to most chemicals, microorganisms, and UV radiation but doesn’t have the same creep resistance as Delrin

Typical applications of UHMW plastic include:

Industrial Applications: Climbing equipment, automotive winching, bowstrings, personal protection armors, high-performance sails, cut-resistant gloves, spearguns, and suspension lines in parachutes.

Wires & Cables: Cable insulation and Cable jacketing.

 Medical: Biomaterial for hips, knee, and spine replacement implants, clinical hip replacements,

Marine Infrastructure: Mooring of ships and floating structures.

Below is a table with typical properties of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene:

Property Unit
Tensile Strength 3100 psi
Specific Gravity 1.45 g/cc
Hardness, Shore D 64
Flexural Modulus 61-110 ksi
Compressive Strength 3600 psi
Water Absorption @ 24H/Saturation 0.01%
Izod Impact, Notched 18 ft-lbs/in.
Compressive Modulus 84 ksi
Coefficient of Friction 0.14
Melting Point 155°C
Maximum Service Temperature 82-85°C
Elongation at Break 125%

Interesting Read – What is SLS Printing? | The Ultimate Guide

Delrin 

 

There is a lot of confusion between Derlin and acetal. While all Delrin is acetal, not all Acetal is Delrin. Acetal is a more commonly known name for the PolyOxyMethylene (POM) family of thermoplastics. Acetal is available in two forms – homopolymer and copolymer. Delrin is a popular name for acetal homopolymer.

Delrin is a little better in terms of mechanical properties than copolymer acetal because of greater regularity in its structure but often contains a low-density center, commonly seen in large cross-sections. Its chemical resistance is slightly lower than copolymer but is perfect for applications with small diameters and thin-walled bushings.

Delrin is stiffer and stronger in unfilled form, has shorter molding cycles, easy to machine, has low moisture absorption, and has a better surface finish.

The limitation of using Delrin is porosity. A noticeable centerline is made by gassing during manufacturing and can cause machining and moisture permeation through the material. That’s why Derlin is not used in food and medical applications due to the possible chances of bacteria growth.

Below is a table with specific properties of Derlin:

Property Unit Range
Molar Volume Vm mL mol-1 22.0 – 26.4
Density ρ g mL-1 1.14 – 1.36
Molecular Weight of Repeat unit g mol-1 30.03
Van-der-Waals Volume VvW mL mol-1 12.25
Solubility Parameter δ MPa1/2 19.9 – 22.9
Molar Heat Capacity Cp J (mol K)-1 62 – 66
Entanglement Molecular Weight Me g mol-1 2000 – 3700
Index of Refraction n 1.44 – 1.48
Molar Cohesive Energy J mol-1 10100 – 11500
Glass Transition Temperature Tg K 207 – 226

Applications

  1. Safety restraint components
  2. Door system components
  3. Zip fasteners
  4. Ski building
  5. Medical delivery devices
  6. Conveyer system components
  7. Gears

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The Major Differences Between Delrin VS UHMW 

Property UHMW Derlin
Tensile Strength 3100 10,000
Water Absorbtion Rating Slight 0.25
Flexural Modulus 110,000 420
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion 11.1 6.8
Applications Starwheels, bushings, bumpers, chain guides, wear stripes, wear plates, Sprockets, guide rails.
Bushings, rollers, fittings, insulators, gears, bearings,
Major Attributes High abrasion resistance, zero water absorption, self-lubricating, chemical resistant, high impact strength, low coefficient of friction, machinability
Machinability, High mechanical strength, rigidity, Low moisture absorption

FAQs 

Below are the frequently asked questions on Delrin vs UHMW. Let’s dig deep to know more.

Is UHMW FDA approved?

Yes. It is both FDA and USDA approved for food and medical applications.

Is UHMW bulletproof?

UHMW is one of the most common plastic materials used for bulletproof applications. It is also used with other materials to produce composite armor systems.

Is Delrin stronger than nylon?

Nylon and even UHMW are nowhere near Derlin in terms of strength.

What is the world’s strongest plastic?

The world’s strongest plastic is polycarbonate. It’s 200 times stronger than glass.

Can Delrin plastic be glued?

Delrin cannot be glued to itself with a type of powerful bond. The reason is that any one-part solvent-based adhesives do not properly dissolve on the surface of Delrin material. Adhesives work by bonding two surfaces of a material. Once the glued pieces are clamped ad allowed to dry, the adhesive evaporates, and they become one bonded piece.

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Final Words

That was my take on UHMW Vs Delrin. They both have different properties and applications, and it is important to have detailed information about them to use them on your shop floor.

Kindly share your thoughts in the comment box.

Have a wonderful day.

2 thoughts on “UHMW Vs Delrin: A Comprehensive Comparison”

  1. For many years I have been using Delrin in industrial applications.
    I find it very easy to work with using wood working tool, i.e. chop saws, table saws, planers etc.
    I have been using it for contact blocks on a lifting tool for large block engines to prevent metal to metal contact between the engine and the picking tool.
    The only issue that I have is with chipping of the Delrin during use.
    Would UHMW be less susceptible to chipping while still allowing easy manufacturing?

    Reply

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