Delrin® Delivers in Healthcare

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Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Delrin Delivers
in Healthcare
®

Greater design freedom for medical product engineers.
Lasting device performance for patients. Delrin is here to make
a material difference in care.

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Material of Choice in the
Healthcare Industry
Delrin® acetal homopolymer is a high-performance material for
medical components in the most demanding applications.
Wide portfolio of options

Figure 1. Comparison of mechanical properties
3.5

Modulus, GPa

3.0

Tensile strength, MPa

Modulus, GPa

2.5

Delrin® Renewable Attributed (RA) options are produced
from certified sustainable sources. These materials can
help manufacturers reduce the carbon footprint of their
healthcare products and achieve sustainability goals.

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5
0.0

Tensile Strength, MPa

Delrin is available in a broad range of Special Control
(SC) and Premium Control (PC) grades—differentiated
by degrees of testing, manufacturing control, global
availability and regulatory support—to suit your project’s
unique requirements.

PA66

PBT

Delrin

Source: Delrin

Compared to acetal copolymer, Delrin acetal homopolymer
offers improved tensile strength, stiffness, creep and
fatigue resistance, and significantly higher impact
resistance (Figure 2). The combination of these
mechanical properties in a single material allows for
thinner, lighter-weight parts and shorter molding cycles
with potential cost reductions.
Figure 2. Comparison of mechanical properties

Delrin®

acetal homopolymer

Superior design flexibility—and
performance

Yield strain, %

Nominal strain at
break, %
100%

75%

Tensile modulus,
MPa

50%

Strength, stiffness and toughness
Delrin behaves more like metal than other unreinforced
plastics due to its very high crystallinity (Figure 1).
It’s the first choice for designers seeking an optimum
balance of strength, stiffness and toughness with
excellent molding characteristics. This balance is key to
designing components for maximum reliability, safety and
manufacturability.

25%

MVR cm 3/10 min

Yield stress, MPa

Acetal

copolymer
Tensile creep
modulus
1,000, MPa

Charpy notched
impact strength
23°C, kJ/m2
Charpy notched
impact strength
-30°C, kJ/m2
Delrin® SC65 NC010

Source: Delrin

General purpose copolymer MVR=8

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Spring performance

Creep resistance

Delrin is an excellent choice for functional parts in drug
delivery devices, clips and connector components due to its
spring performance. As demonstrated by cyclic loading at
different strain levels (Figure 3), Delrin shows a spring-like
flexibility beyond the linear portion of the stress-strain curve
and strong recovery when the load is removed.

In many healthcare applications, the accurate function of a
device depends on components that hold their shape after
long-term loading. One such example is a spring-loaded
auto-injector. As drugs have become more complex, larger
springs are being used to deliver formulations, increasing
stress on internal parts. Delrin offers the best creep
resistance of all unreinforced engineering polymer types
including acetal copolymers (Figure 4). Design engineers
can be confident in its performance without the need for
glass-reinforced alternatives, which can compromise impact
performance and dimensional stability.

This allows designers to create snap fits or springs that
return closer to their original position for more predictable
and reliable device performance.
Figure 3. Cyclic tensile test Delrin at 23°C

Figure 4. Comparison of creep performance

Delrin® SC631, 20.7 MPa
2.5
High MW POM copolymer, 20.7 MPa
Strain %

1.5

>10x longer life!

>20% lower deflection

0.5

Initial

1,000
Time, hrs

10,000

100,000 1,000,000

Accelerated Flexural Creep at 23°C using DMA. F
or reference purposes only.

Source: Delrin

Delrin® acetal homopolymer
offers extended lifetime
performance in components
like auto injectors.

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Low friction

Sterilization and chemical resistance

In a tribological system—whenever two surfaces rub against
each other—careful material selection matters. The right
materials help ensure predictable performance and avoid
excessive or variable friction, stick-slip effects, squeaking
and failure. Delrin® is an inherently low-friction material that
can be further enhanced with low-friction additives, making
it an easy choice in applications where sliding performance
and wear resistance are critical (Figure 5).

Frequent cleaning and sterilization are critical to stem the
spread of disease in healthcare settings. The materials that
make up medical devices, whether single-use or multi-use,
must continue to perform through these processes.
A semi-crystalline polymer, Delrin withstands many
chemicals commonly used in the healthcare industry for
analysis, cleaning and disinfection (Figure 7), or as drug
carriers or conserving agents. Delrin also withstands
common sterilization processes, such as ethylene oxide
(EtO) and a number of repeat autoclave cycles.

Figure 5. Typical dynamic coefficient of friction
Coefficient of friction against itself
0.3

Figure 7. Chemical resistance testing of Delrin

Delrin® SC 698

Coefficient of friction

Low friction POM copolymer

Tensile strength after 96-hour exposure (>80% retention)
2.5% Bleach solution
3% Peroxide solution
Ethanol Quaternary ammonium
solution Clorox®* Healthcare
Bleach Spray Lysol®* Mold
and Mildew Sani-HyPerCide®*
Germicide Sani-Cloth®* AF3
Wipes Virex® Tb*

0.2

0.1

COF at 15s

* Trademark of its respective company

COF at 2mn

Source: Delrin

Factors such as temperature, chemical concentration,
exposure time, part surface-to-weight ratio and stress
level can all affect performance. For this reason, it is
highly recommended to conduct a realistic end-use test to
determine suitability for a particular application.

Featuring the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) in the
portfolio, Delrin® SC698 provides smooth, easy actuation
for drug delivery devices like inhalers, injectors and pumps,
eliminating the need for external lubrication of components.
Patients can benefit from reduced effort, increased comfort,
improved dosing accuracy and consistent operation.
Designers and manufacturers can depend on Delrin® SC698
for a smooth surface, good colorability and improved
aesthetics over other friction-modified acetals (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Improved surface finish with Delrin® SC698

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Sustainability
In addition to the reduced carbon footprint achieved with
Renewable Attributed grades, designers can take advantage
of the superior properties of Delrin to make component
sections thinner and integrate functional features into single
molded parts, thus reducing overall material usage. Delrin
also has the potential (if and where infrastructure exists) to
be 100% recycled to support circularity initiatives.

Delrin® presents an important opportunity to reduce the
global warming potential of medical device components.
While standard Delrin grades already have a low carbon
footprint compared to many other polymer types, further
gains can be made by switching to Delrin® Renewable
Attributed—its base polymer is produced using 100%
bio-feedstock from waste in accordance with ISCC
mass balance certification. In addition, this material is
manufactured with 100% certified renewable electricity.

Figure 9. Delrin property retention after five passes
of 100% regrind

Property retention [%]

Virgin resin
Melt flow rate

1st

2nd

3rd

Tensile modulus

4th

5th

Notched charpy impact

Source: Delrin

Planning on Delrin® Renewable Attributed from the early
phases of a project can result in significant CO2 savings
throughout the lifetime of the application—with tangible
benefits to end-users, patients and the environment
(Figure 10).

Two commercial grades are available for healthcare
applications. Delrin® RASC655 and Delrin® RASC698
offer mechanical properties and regulatory approvals
identical to those of the existing Special Control versions*,
but with up to 75% lower carbon footprint—a market-leading
sustainability benefit (Figure 8).

Figure 10. Case study example of potential CO2 savings
(POM converted to Delrin® Renewable Attributed)***

Figure 8. Delrin® RASC655 and Delrin® SC655 properties
comparison

Optimize design
for Delrin

Tensile modulus
Notched charpy
impact strength
(23°C)

100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%

Tensile strength
at yield
POM part

Convert to
Delrin®
Renewable
Attributed

Abiotic
depletion
potential

Nominal strain
at break

Global warming
potential

** Tons
CO2 saved

Delrin®
Renewable
Attributed
part
Source: Delrin

Delrin® SC655
Delrin® RASC655
Source: Delrin
* Equivalency statements available upon request.
** Exact figures can be shared under NDA.
*** Data on POM from Plastics Europe. Data for Delrin and Delrin® Renewable Attributed from three panel peer reviewed LCA. Assumed redesigned weight savings is 10%.

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Delrin® acetal homopolymer Special Control (SC) and Premium Control (PC) grades
These products are manufactured according to Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles and generally
accepted in food contact applications in Europe and the
USA when meeting applicable use conditions. These
products are also tested against ISO 10993-5 and -11 and
selected parts of USP Class VI.

Details, individual compliance statements and complete
data sheets are available from your Delrin representative.
Table 1 is a condensed version.
The data contained herein reflects typical historical
properties for our products and should not be used to
establish specification limits.

Table 1. Special Control and Premium Control grades for healthcare applications
Property

Tensile

Yield Stress

Yield
Strain

Strain at
Break

Charpy Impact
(notched)

Unit

(Mpa)

(%)

(kJ/m2)

Test Condition

23°C

-30°C

Test Standard

ISO 527 ISO 527 -1/-2 ISO 527
-1/-2
-1/-2

ISO 527
-1/-2

Density

Mass
Flow
Rate

(g/cm2) (g/10 min)
2.16 kg

ISO
ISO
ISO 1183 ISO 1133
179/1eA 179/1eA

Temperature
of Deflection
under Load

Melt
Temperature

(°C)

1.8 MPa

10°C/min

ISO 75 -1/-2

ISO 11357 -1/-3

Product Family

Grade
(Natural Color)

Delrin POM

SC631

Low/medium
flow

1.42

PC650

Medium flow

1.42

PC652

Medium flow,
advanced
lubricant

1.39

SC655

Medium flow

1.42

RASC655

Renewable
Attributed.
Medium flow.

1.42

SC690/PC690

High flow

1.42

SC698

High flow, low
friction, superior
surface

1.44

RASC698

Renewable
Attributed. High
flow, low friction,
superior surface

1.44

Description

Source: Delrin

Contact your Delrin representative for Material Safety Data Sheets, general guides and/or information about ventilation, handling, purging, drying, etc.
ISO mechanical properties are measured at 4 mm and all ASTM properties are measured at 3.2 mm.

Delrin® Healthcare Solutions

Special Control* grades

Premium Control grades

• Manufactured according to GMP principles

• Food contact statements (EU/FDA)

• Tested against selected parts USP Class VI

• Tested against selected parts of USP Class VI

• Tested against relevant parts ISO 10993

• Tested against relevant parts of ISO 10993

• Sterilization data

• Global availability

• Global availability
• FDA drug master files available (DMF)

Products

• Extended change notification

• Delrin® SC631 NC010, medium flow, nucleated,
POM homopolymer

Products

• Delrin SC655 NC010, medium flow POM homopolymer

• Delrin® PC650 NC010, medium flow POM homopolymer

• Delrin SC690 NC010, high flow POM homopolymer
®

• Delrin® PC652 NC010, medium flow, lubricated,
POM homopolymer

• Delrin SC698 NC010, high flow, lubricated POM
homopolymer for superior surface quality
®

• Delrin® PC690 NC010, high flow POM homopolymer

• Delrin RASC655 NC010, Renewable Attributed medium
flow POM homopolymer
®

• Delrin® RASC698 NC010, Renewable Attributed high flow,
lubricated POM homopolymer for superior surface finish

The use of Delrin® POM homopolymer in healthcare applications
With a variety of grade options available, and diverse performance characteristics, Delrin® grades may be considered for a
wide range of medical applications. However, Delrin reserves the right not to sell into selected applications. As a principle,
the Delrin business expressively requests that Delrin materials are not used in medical applications involving implantation
in the human body or contact with internal body fluids or tissues unless the material has been provided from Delrin under
a written contract that is consistent with the Delrin policy regarding medical applications and expressly acknowledges the
contemplated use. For further information, please contact your Delrin representative.

Customer applications
• Clamps, clips and connectors

• Fluid and gas handling

• Safety devices for syringes

• Diagnostics

• Pen injectors

• Surgical instruments

• Dry powder inhalers

• Prosthetics

• Valves and pumps

To learn more, contact your Delrin representative or visit Delrin.com.

The information and recommendations contained herein are offered as a service to our customers but are not intended to relieve the user from its
responsibility to investigate and understand other pertinent sources of information and to comply with all laws and procedures applicable to the safe
handling and use of these materials. The information and recommendations provided herein were believed by Delrin to be accurate at the time of
preparation or obtained from sources believed to be generally reliable. However, Delrin® makes no warranty concerning their accuracy and Delrin® will
not be liable for claims resulting from any party’s use of or reliance on information or recommendations contained herein regardless of whether it is
claimed that the information or recommendations are inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise misleading.
Delrin is an industry-leading premium industrial polymer business. Grounded in strong innovation, Delrin is a category creator with a longstanding
reputation for quality, reliability, supply and product performance. The iconic Delrin brand, coupled with proprietary technology and deep application
expertise make us a leader in the high-end engineering polymer market. Delrin has exciting growth prospects from exposure to automation, actuation,
healthcare, mobility and consumer applications.
Copyright 2024 Delrin

Form No. HMC0224