Round Rod in POM FG UD 3000 mm blue

Round rod in POM FG UD is the raw material when you turn food parts that have to be detectable in a contaminated batch. UD stands for Universal Detectable, a combination of blue pigmentation and a mineral additive that registers in inductive metal detectors as well as in X-ray systems for the packaging industry.

It is still a POM base at heart. Density is 1.41 g/cm³, the long term temperature is 105°C, the lowest working temperature -40°C and the fire rating HB. Water absorption is 0.8 percent. That means a turned bushing keeps its dimensions even in damp production environments and handles both cold room and warm room conditions.

The food approved part is specified to EU regulation 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.2470. The additive that makes the material detectable is blended straight into the extrusion, so the whole cross section is active; it is not a surface coating that can wear off. The color is blue so it shows against light colored food even if a piece ends up visible in the product.

In the lathe, POM FG UD behaves essentially the same as pure POM C. The chip breaks in a controlled way, the surface finish comes out high and the dimensional tolerances hold because heat buildup is low. Use sharp tools and a moderate feed for the best surface finish; compressed air or food approved coolant works well. Chlorinated coolants should be avoided since they break acetal down at raised temperatures.

Typical parts turned from the rod are bushings in conveyor belt rollers, plain bearings in tipping guides, scrapers and wipers in filling machines, cams in packaging equipment, spacer rings in dosing valves and rollers in sorting machines for bakery and meat processing. Many customers swap standard acetal for the UD grade on every wear component in a line, so they do not have to keep detectable and non detectable spare parts apart in stock.

Chemically the material handles ordinary cleaning agents, mild alkali and the neutral solvents used in CIP. Strong oxidizing acids, concentrated chlorine and peroxide based disinfectants are things you should avoid long term contact with. For really aggressive cleaning regimes, PEEK FG or PVDF is more relevant.

The rods are supplied in standard lengths with tolerance to DIN 16941. When cut, you get working allowance for facing the end in the lathe. Keep thermal expansion in mind for fits; acetal moves around 110 to 130 micrometers per meter and degree, so leave clearance in the bushing mounting if the application shifts between cold and hot process.

The blue rod at 3000 mm can be detected with both a metal detector and X-ray, so a broken off piece is found before it reaches the packaging.

Do you need documentation on detection levels or help choosing a dimension for your job? Get in touch and we will pull out the supplier specification for you.