Round Rod in POM LF 3000 mm black

Friction. That is often where a POM part first proves itself or fails, and POM LF is tuned for exactly that point. LF stands for "low friction"; blended in solid lubricants lower the sliding resistance compared with an unmodified POM grade. The result is a round rod that runs drier, heats up less in the contact and extends the service life of sliding pairs where relubrication is not an option.

The density is around 1.45 g/cm³, somewhat higher than pure POM because of the additives. The long term temperature holds 100 degrees continuously and the material takes down to around minus 20 degrees without losing mechanical integrity in normal designs. The fire rating is HB. The water absorption stops at around 0.7 percent, which keeps the dimensions stable even in a damp workshop environment. The combination of stiffness, dimensional stability and low friction is the whole point of the grade.

Chemically POM is, as is well known, a decent all rounder. Fuels, oils, greases, many organic solvents and weak bases are handled without trouble. Strong acids and strong oxidizers are what you have to keep away. UV is not the strength of the material outdoors over a longer time, but indoor applications do not notice it.

In terms of format the round rod is meant for turning and milling. It machines cleanly, leaves clean chips and holds tolerances well. The heat build up in the cutting zone is low thanks to the LF additives, so you avoid some of the gumminess that turns up in pure POM C at aggressive feeds. Common components from a POM LF round rod:

Plain bushings and linear bearings where relubrication is impossible.

Shafts and guide studs in packaging machines and conveyors.

Gears in drive lines where noise level and wear are critical.

Slide plates and slide guides in textile machines.

Components in food machinery that require long service intervals.

When choosing a diameter: allow for machining stock. A round rod of Ø60 for example gives a finished part of up to around 55 millimeters depending on how centered the raw material is. POM can carry some internal stress from the extrusion, so heavy diameters should be handled with care during heavy stock removal; do not heat them unnecessarily and let them cool between operations if you take away a lot of material.

POM LF is not the right choice everywhere. If you need maximum stiffness and hardness, POM H is better. If you need food approval without additives, POM C FG suits. If you need electrical conduction there are other grades, and if you need the highest possible UV resistance you should look at a UV stabilized version. But for sliding pairs in dry running, where friction and wear decide how long the machine lasts, POM LF is the right choice.

Supplied in standard lengths and common diameters. Cutting to the length you want is handled together with the order. Do you need help choosing the right diameter, or judging whether the LF grade is right against POM C in your design? Get in touch and we will go through it.

In black and 3000 mm long, the conductive material gives full length for longer runs of static dissipative parts.