We use Delrin and Teflon materials for many purposes. But can you tell which one’s better? Sure, it’s tricky but there are many things that set them apart.
Delrin vs Teflon: what are the differences?
Delrin is a thermoplastic material, unlike Teflon. Teflon is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. Whereas, Delrin is composed of polyoxymethylene. Teflon has dielectric properties and is used in electric circuits. On the flip side, Delrin is not hydrophobic and does not impact the environment negatively.
These were the differences between Delrin and Teflon in a nutshell. But that’s not all, if you’ve got a minute, read this article to find out more about Delrin and Teflon.
We’ve discussed their features, and which one is in the lead.
Ready?
Delrin Vs Teflon: What Makes Them Different?
Delrin and Teflon are two of the popular materials for industrial application. They offer a variety of services. Here’s a quick difference between Teflon and Delrin to give you a basic idea about their features-
| Delrin | Teflon |
| Thermoplastic material | Not Thermoplastic material |
| Composed of Polyoxymethylene | Composed of Polytetrafluoroethylene |
| Doesn’t have dielectric properties | Have dielectric properties |
| Not Hydrophobic | Hydrophobic |
| Does not cause an environmental hazard | Causes Environmental Hazards |
| Melting Point is 175 degrees F | Melting Point is 621 degrees F |
Now that we’ve discussed a bit about the basics, you can see yourself making a choice. But this isn’t as easy as choosing between Cerro Wire and Romex. Read through our extensive segment before going with either Delrin or Teflon.
What Is Delrin?
Delrin is Polyoxymethylene ( also known as POM), which is one kind of thermoplastic. Delrin is a brand that sells products based on polyoxymethylene. It is used widely in many industries as the replacement of metals.
Advantages Of Delrin
Delrin is the most popular alternative to metal. Not only because of its tensile strength and durability but also because it is extremely fatigue-resistant. The machinability of the thermoplastic material is also reliable. Along with its toughness and creep resistance, Delrin is also known for its thin design and its light weightiness.
Another advantage of Delrin is that the absorption level of water is pretty low. This means it can perform well in wet or dry conditions. It also isn’t reactive to any chemical solvents and fuel. Delrin also has a remarkably low coefficient of friction.
Disadvantages of Delrin
What’s surprising about Delrin, is its less heat resistant than Teflon. Since it’s melting point is almost three times less than that of Teflon. So you can’t really use it when temperatures rise to the level of a furnace overheating.
What Is Teflon?
Teflon is actually a brand name. This brand uses PTFE based coatings on different products. This material is commonly called PTFE because its composition is based on Polytetrafluoroethylene (thank god it’s shortened).
One of the most popular applications of Teflon is non-stick cookware which had received wide acceptance from mass users. But not for long! Teflon had received several complaints regarding health and environmental hazards.
Advantages Of Teflon
Like we mentioned before, Teflon has remarkable dielectric properties. For this reason, Teflon is still used to make electrical outlets. Teflon is also not reactive to any chemical solutions. PTFE is also resistant to heat and radiation. The coefficient of friction of PTFE is also very low.
In addition to perfect machinability and zero moisture absorption, Teflon is also relatively insensitive to the power frequency.
The coolest advantage of the Teflon coat is that it is hydrophobic. This coat is applied to many surfaces (yes, even clothes) so that the material can resist water. So Teflon is still in use in many countries.
Disadvantages Of Teflon
Teflon had been accepted by everyone as the favorite coating for non-stick cooking wares. I mean who doesn’t love a pan that requires no scrubbing and makes the perfect eggs! But the concern about Teflon was the chemical it was made with until 2013.
The chemical is known as perfluorooctanoic acid (in short PFOA). This chemical used to be found in the cookware and the food cooked in it in trace amounts. Which can eventually cause chronic kidney, liver, thyroid, and so on diseases.
Even after PFOA was stopped for use in manufacturing Teflon, people are still worried about the exposure of this chemical to the environment. This caused serious health and environmental hazards.
Do you want to know how?
The PTFE (main composition of Teflon) coating starts to decompose at a temperature of 660 degrees F. When this temperature exceeds, the coating releases toxic particles into the environment. Starting from your kitchen.
The Verdict
Both the material Delrin and Teflon have their own unique characteristics. However, choosing any one of the materials will be tricky. But make sure your choice fulfills your requirements.
If you want a material for building capacitors, or O-rings or gaskets, Teflon would be the best option for its dielectric features. Make sure you don’t cook at a temperature higher than 660 degrees F.
Though if you want to avoid any sort of health hazard, it’s probably better you use Delrin. This thermoplastic material is the best replacement for metal.
FAQs
Is Delrin PTFE?
Yes! Delrin Acetal Copolymer is composed of 10-25% of PTFE fluorocarbons dispersed in Delrin Resin. This material possesses strength, dimension, and stability. Making this material one of the most slippery solid metals.
Is Teflon dangerous?
Unfortunately yes! Teflon releases toxic particles every time the material reaches a high temperature such as 660 degrees F. These toxic chemicals are destroying our health and our environment.
What is Delrin used for?
Delrin is used for a wide range of products made with thermoplastic material. Such as Gears, Safety Restraint Components, Conveyor Belts, Door system components, Ski bindings, and so on.
Signing Off
Hope you choose the right material with the help of our comparison of Delrin vs Teflon. Both the materials are unique and have so much to offer.
Let us know which of the materials are going for in the comments below.
Till then be safe!