Polyoxymethylene (Polyacetal) (2019 Program)

Acetal polymers, also known as polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyacetal are formaldehyde-based thermoplastics that have been commercially available for about 60 years. Polyformaldehyde (the homopolymer of polyacetal) is a thermally unstable material that decomposes on heating to yield formaldehyde gas. Two methods of stabilizing polyformaldehyde for use as an engineering polymer were developed and introduced by DuPont in 1959 and Celanese in 1962. This report outlines the Chemistry, Process Technology, Economics and Commercial aspects associated with the polyacetals.