Acetal Washers
Acetal Washers
A small proportion of products manufactured and supplied by Advanced Seals & Gaskets are manufactured using plastic.
Acetal (polyoxymethylene or POM) is one of many plastic materials available from Advanced Seals & Gaskets, available in numerous grades, colours and thicknesses. Acetal plastics can be supplied in sheets up to 1200 x 300mm in size and thicknesses between 0.8mm and 50mm, and also in extruded tubes of various diameters which can be cut down into acetal plastic washers to order.
All our washers are manufactured in-house using a combination of a skilled workforce and high-spec machinery, using either our CNC oscillating knife or one of our many saws and presses (for very thin washers).
Our range of machinery means we can manufacture acetal plastic washers to match your specified dimensions in any quantity quickly and efficiently, supplied with a choice of self adhesives or foils, which in return passes on a quality product and a cost saving.
Product Enquiry
For information on Acetal Washers please complete the following quick enquiry or call us on +44(0)1384 252555.
Key Characteristics of Acetal Plastic
Colour: Black and Natural as standard (others can be made to order)
Sheet Size: up to 1200 x 300mm
Thicknesses: 0.8mm and 50mm,
Max Temperature: 96.9°C
Grades Available: Static Dissipative, Glass-Filled, Enhanced Bearing and Wear, FDA Compliant, Metal and X-ray Detectable
What Are Acetal Plastic Washers?
Acetal plastic washers are made using a highly wear resistant, strong , low friction engineering thermoplastic recognised for its strong physical and processing properties - retaining its hardness and rigidity even when exposed to high and low temperatures and in both wet and dry environments.
A ‘washer’ is a flat piece of material, this case Acetal plastic which is placed between two surfaces or between joints in order to reduce friction and prevent unsteadiness, creating a level surface for nuts, bolts and other fixings to rest on, improving the fit for fixings and can be used as a water or air tight seal. Acetal plastic washers are produced using either samples, drawings or dimensions provided by customers, which would detail the Outer Diameter (OD), Internal Diameter (ID) and the Thickness, manufactured in a plain or self-adhesive finish.
Why Use Acetal Plastic Washers?
Plastic is often used as a longer lasting more durable alternative to glass or metals for many applications. Manufacturers and engineers often choose to use Acetal plastic for their washer production as the material is easy to machine, resistant to some chemicals, solvents and hydrocarbons and offers excellent wear properties in wet or dry conditions.
Acetal is available in two material options - Homopolymer and Copolymer, Homopolymer Acetal as strong and tough at room temperature, whereas Copolymer Acetal demonstrates excellent performance at high heat and within hot water environments as it’s less porous.
When cut into washers, Acetal plastic can be used as air and water tight seals and as a non-corrosive alternative to metal - where the washers are to be used between moving parts, an abrasion resistant Acetal plastic washer can be used for longevity and wear resistance.
Acetal plastic washers can be cut and converted into a range of sizes using various techniques including laser cutting, die cutting, sawing and even thermoforming (where the material is heated until it is soft, re-shaped and then left to cool and harden), supplied in either a plain or self-adhesive backed finish with peel-able liner applied to one or both sides.
The versatility and robustness of Acetal plastics means these washers can be found within electrical, automotive parts, as medical devices and within electrical goods.
Other Types of Plastic Available
Advanced Seals & Gaskets work with a multitude of material manufacturers and suppliers, giving our customers more choice of plastic sheeting - our most popular materials being:
- PTFE
- Polycarbonate
- Polypropylene
- HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)
- PVC
- Polyester
- ABS
- Acrylic
- Nylatron
Advantages Of Using Acetal Plastic Washers
Using Acetal plastic washer offers users many advantages, it's easy to machine into intricate and precise components, and offers many desirable characteristics and properties including excellent creep resistance, dimensional stability, strength, low coefficient friction, low water absorption and good electrical properties.
Using Acetal plastic washers offers a whole host of benefits, not only are they cheaper and lighter in weight in comparison to metal and some sponge options, but also offer more resistance to wear and corrosion (will not rust unlike metal).
Despite being a fairly rigid material, plastic washers can still be compressed to create a tight seal and as well as being great for insulation applications as it does not conduct heat or electricity.
Acetal plastic is made more versatile as it can be manufactured in a range of colours and finishes and also cut, pressed or moulded into bespoke shapes and profiles Combined with the excellent wear resistance and performance in cold or hot environments (including hot water), makes Acetal washers perfect for use as parts within pumps and valves, gears, electrical components, food production, medical devices, automotive components and other fixtures.
As Acetal plastics are available in sheet or tube form in many sizes so that they can be readily available for most applications, as the material is fairly easy to machine and shape, bespoke shapes can be cut from sheets within a minimal amount of time.
Benefits Of Using Acetal Plastic
- Good chemical resistance
- Wear & abrasion resistant
- Performs well in wet or dry environments
- Excellent machinability
- Low moisture absorption
- Good electrical insulation
Please contact us using the form below or by calling us on +44(0)1384 252555.