Sheet in POM+PE 1000x500 mm blue

Sheet in POM+PE is a POM matrix with polyethylene blended in, which makes the sliding surface lubricate itself under load. The composition gives a material with a density around 1.35 g/cm³ and a continuous working temperature up to about 100 degrees. In the cold the material keeps its properties down toward -40 degrees, which is enough for most indoor applications and cold storage buildings. The fire class is HB according to UL 94. Water absorption stops at around 0.8 percent, so machined parts keep their tolerances even in a damp industrial environment. That combination of low moisture absorption and a built-in sliding film makes the sheet a natural choice where both nylon and pure PE would otherwise have had limitations.

The biggest difference from pure POM C is the friction picture. The PE phase settles as microscopic islands in the matrix, and as the surface wears, new lubricant is released continuously. The result is a lower tendency to stick-slip and less risk of seizing in dry running. This shows up clearly in conveyor lines, dosing mechanics and moving machine parts where oil is not an option. The coefficient of friction against steel is noticeably lower than for standard acetal, and the difference grows the longer the running time is, because the material builds up an even sliding film. In practice this means a slide strip made in POM+PE keeps a stable friction picture over its whole service life, rather than binding at first and then wearing itself in.

Mechanically the material sits somewhat below unfilled POM in hardness, but still holds good stiffness and wear resistance. Creep under long-term load is comparable with standard POM, and the sheet takes point loads without deforming permanently, provided the load stays within reasonable PV values. Impact strength is good and the material is not brittle, even in cold environments. The slightly lower hardness is a deliberate compromise, since the PE phase that gives low friction also reduces the total stiffness of the matrix. Chemically the material takes the same media as POM, that is oil, weak acids, bases and most solvents. Strong oxidizers and concentrated acids should be avoided. Against water and water vapor the behavior is stable, which is one of the reasons the material is common in the food industry and in pump building.

The sheet is used for slide strips on conveyors, guide rails, wear plates in filling plants, chain guides and backing pieces in packaging machines. In the food industry dry running sliding surfaces are often a requirement, and POM+PE solves this without having to give up the dimensional stability that pure PE would mean. In heavy mechanical applications the sheet works as a wear guide under chains and roller conveyors, where it replaces oil and grease lubrication completely. Thin strips can also be milled into slide shoes for pneumatic cylinders and linear units, where friction has to be low but the dimension safe. In piece goods industry and breweries the sheet is used as guide rails for bottle lines and dosing, where hygiene and continuous operation are central requirements. In tool building the material often sits as wear resistant slide pads under mold halves and moving punches.

Machining is done like ordinary POM. CNC milling gives a clean surface, and water jet cutting works well for blanks and contours. Heat build-up in the cut is low, which gives good tolerances even on thin sections. Gluing is difficult because of the PE phase, so mechanical fastening is safer. When milling grooves for slide strips it is enough to keep the feed down and you avoid heating. The sheet is supplied in standard formats and can be cut into sheets, strips, blocks or finished blanks to drawing. Put ordinary POM fastening aside: the fastening methods are the same as for POM C. When threading, keep the drill sharp and the feed even, so that the PE phase does not smear out in the thread. For larger series there is the option of putting the deburring in a separate operation and saving cutting time.

Thin sheets under 5 mm are sensitive to tool marks during clamping, so a soft board between the sheet and the table is to be recommended. In series production a simple fixture saves a lot of setup time and makes sure that all the parts come out with the same reference.

Do you need help working out the right thickness for your wear plate? Send over the drawing or the load case and we will give a recommendation based on real operation and expected service life.

The blue sheet measures 1000x500 mm and suits smaller slide plates and guide surfaces.