Sheet in POM FG UD 1220x610 mm blue

A sheet in POM FG UD makes strict food safety requirements possible to solve in one and the same part. UD stands for Universal Detectable; the material is pigmented blue and carries a mineral additive that gives a response both in metal detectors and in X-ray systems. If a piece breaks off and ends up in the product, it is found before the batch leaves the factory.

Mechanically it is the same POM base as ordinary acetal. The density is 1.41 g/cm³, the long term temperature is 105°C and the lowest working temperature -40°C. Flammability rating HB and water uptake around 0.8 percent. Dimensional stability is high and the coefficient of friction against steel is low, which makes the material a standard item in mechanical food lines.

The food approved part is specified according to EU regulation 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.2470. The detectability is designed to work with both inductive metal detectors and conventional X-ray systems, which covers most of what quality control in the food industry uses. The blue color is chosen to show up clearly against light colored food; a piece in dough, cheese or filling can be picked out visually by an operator before the detectors even sound.

The sheets are used for wear surfaces, guide strips, slide plates, cams, scrapers and guides in filling and packaging machines for dairy, meat processing, bakery and ready meals. The additive does not change machinability noticeably; the material is milled, turned, planed and drilled with the same tools and speeds as ordinary POM C, and the chip breaks in a controlled way with a fine surface finish.

Chemically the material handles common CIP cleaning agents, mild alkali and most neutral solvents. Strong acids and oxidizing chlorine based chemicals are not the strong side of the material; for aggressive environments PEEK FG or PVDF is more suitable. At temperatures above 80°C you should not expose the part to long term contact with strong cleaning agents either, if the service life is to be predictable.

A practical point at assembly: keep in mind that acetal has a fairly high thermal expansion, roughly 110 to 130 micrometers per meter and degree. With large sheets in spaces where the temperature alternates between chilled and warm rooms you should leave play in the mounting holes. For bonding, cyanoacrylate and polyurethane work well against a clean surface; for really strong adhesion the surface should be pretreated mechanically or with a flame, since acetal has low surface energy.

A blue sheet at 1220x610 mm in ultra detectable quality, that is to say stock that shows up both in a metal detector and on X-ray if a piece comes loose in a food line.

The sheets are supplied in standard formats and are cut to the size you want to order. The thickness follows DIN 16941. Do you want to know which detector sensitivity the supplier's UD additive is specified against, or which formats we have in stock? Get in touch and we will pull out the documentation for you.