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ABS vs Acetal gears

Q. Hello,
My name is Mick. I really need to know the benefits of using Acetal rather than ABS. We are about to market a product that uses Acetal for the gears rather than ABS. I am in sales and do not know ANYTHING about these two substances.

Thank You for your help

Mick Fyalkowski
Natl. Sales Manager - Greensburg, Pennsylvania, US
January 10, 2012

A. Acetal (also called polyoxymethylene or POM) is a semi-crystalline polymer, as are nylons and polyesters. ABS is an amorphous polymer, with polycarbonate and acrylic (PMMA) being other examples. In general, semi-crystalline polymers possess better creep resistance, fatigue strength, wear resistance and solvent resistance than amorphous polymers. This is why highly stressed plastic components like gears bearings typically use semi-crystalline polymers.

Toby Padfield
Automotive component & module supplier - Michigan, USA
January 23, 2012

A. Thanks for the concise and informative response, Toby.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 24, 2012

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