SIGRID LÜFTL, PhD,is currently involved in researching the influence of artificial aging on the properties of polymer materials. She has worked as a research associate at the Institute of Materials Science and Technology at the Vienna University of Technology.

VISAKH P.M. is a Senior Researcher at the School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He has been invited as a visiting student/researcher to about 15 European universities and is the editor of seven books.

SARATH CHANDRAN is working as a research fellow at the School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, India, and as a research fellow at the Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Catalysis, RMIT, Australia.

Preface xiii

1 Polyoxymethylene: State of Art, New Challenges and Opportunities 1
Sigrid Luft l and Visakh. P.M.

1.1 Scope 2

1.2 History 2

1.3 Commercial Significance 7

References 13

2 Polymerization and Manufacture of Polyoxymethylene 21
Johannes Karl Fink

2.1 Introduction 21

2.2 Monomers 22

2.3 Comonomers 25

2.4 Polymerization and Fabrication 28

2.5 Special Additives 44

References 46

3 Polyoxymethylene Additives 53
Emmanuel Richaud

3.1 Introduction 53

3.2 Antioxidants 54

3.3 Compounds Reacting with Secondary Reaction Products 59

3.4 UV Stabilization 60

3.5 Impact Modifier 65

3.6 Nucleating Agent 67

3.7 Pigments and Dyes 72

3.8 Flame Retardants 75

3.9 Antistatic Agents 79

3.10 Lubricating Agents 80

3.11 Fillers 82

3.12 Processing Aids 90

References 91

Appendix 3.1: List of Stabilizers 100

4 Polyoxymethylene Processing 107
Kinga Pielichowska

4.1 Introduction 107

4.2 Injection Molding 109

4.3 Melt Extrusion 116

4.4 Solid-State Extrusion 118

4.5 Extrusion Assisted by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide 120

4.6 Blow Molding 121

4.7 Others Methods 123

4.8 Highly Oriented Products 132

4.9 Recycling of Production Waste 136

4.10 Finishing and Machining of POM 138

4.11 Conclusions 141

References 142

5 Polyoxymethylene Applications 153
Lidia Tokarz, Slawomir Pawlowski and Michal Kedzierski

5.1 Introduction 153

5.2 Automotive Industry, Mechanical Engineering 156

5.3 Electrical and Electronic Industry, Fancy Goods 157

5.4 Medical Applications 158

5.5 Future Trends 160

References 160

6 Structure and Morphology of Polyoxymethylene 163
Maria Raimo

6.1 Introduction 163

6.2 Crystalline Structure of POM: Orthorhombic and Hexagonal Phases 165

6.3 Crystal Structure Determination 170

6.4 Morphology of Orthorhombic and Hexagonal POM 173

6.5 Morphology of Rubber-Modified POM 179

6.6 Structure-Properties Relationships 181
References 186

7 Crystal Structure and Crystallization Behavior of POM and its Microscopically-Viewed Relation with the Physical and Thermal Properties on the Basis of X-ray Scattering, Vibrational Spectroscopy and Lattice Dynamical Theory 193
Kohji Tashiro

7.1 Introduction 194

7.2 Crystal Structure Analysis of POM 195

7.3 Vibrational Spectra of POM 204

7.4 Structural Evolution in Isothermal Crystallization 207

7.5 Microscopically-Viewed Mechanical Property of POM 216

7.6 Conclusions 223

Acknowledgements 224

References 224

8 Physical Properties of Polyoxymethylene 227
Johannes Karl Fink

8.1 Introduction 227

8.2 Density 228

8.3 Hardness 230

8.4 Heat Capacity 231

8.5 Melt Flow 231

8.6 Water Absorption 235

8.7 Gas Permeability 236

8.8 Specific Absorption 238

References 239

9 POM Mechanical Properties 241
Fahmi Bedoui and Bruno Fayolle

9.1 Short Term Properties 242

9.2 Long-Term Properties 249

9.3 Conclusion 252

Acknowledgement 253

References 253

10 Thermal Properties and Flammability of Polyoxymethylene 257
Vasiliki-Maria Archodoulaki and Sigrid Luft l

10.1 Glass Transition and Melting Temperature 257

10.2 Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion 260

10.3 Thermal Conductivity and Specific Heat 260

10.4 HDT and Vicat 261

10.5 Thermo-Oxidative Degradation Behavior and Aging 261

10.6 Testing of Long-Term Heat Aging 266

10.7 Flammability 267

10.8 Hot Sterilization 270

References 271

11 Chemical Resistance of Polyoxymethylene 277
Sigrid Luft l and Emmanuel Richaud

11.1 Intoduction 277

11.2 Degradation and Oxidation Mechanisms in POM 278

11.3 Resistance to Chemicals 283

References 295

12 The Electrical Response of Polyoxymethylene (POM) 301
D.A. Wasylyshyn

12.1 Introduction 301

12.2 Interactions between POM and Electromagnetic Waves 302

12.3 Interactions between POM and Arc Plasma 313

References 318

13 Electrical and Optical Properties of Polyoxymethylene 321
Natamai Subramanian Muralisrinivasan

13.1 Introduction 321

13.2 Electrical Properties 322

13.3 Optical Properties 327

References 329

14 Nanocomposites of Polyoxymethylene 331
Agnieszka Leszczyñska and Krzysztof Pielichowski

14.1 Introduction 331

14.2 Preparation and Structure of POM Nanocomposites with Different Nanoadditives 332

14.3 Properties of Polyoxymethylene-Based Nanocomposites 347

14.4 POM Blends as Matrices in Nanocomposite Materials 376

14.5 POM Nanostructures - Electrospun POM Nanofibers 381

14.6 Applications of POM-Based Nanocomposites and Future Trends 385

14.7 Conclusions 386

List of acronyms 387

References 388

15 Future, Environmental Impact and Suppliers 399
Takashi Iwamoto and Junzo Masamoto

15.1 Introduction 400

15.2 Developments and Specialty Resins 400

15.3 Safety (Regulation and Approvals) 421

15.4 Environmental Impact 424

15.5 Suppliers and Commercial Grades 426

15.6 Future 426

References 432

Index 435

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