 |
High Performance Polymers (HPPs) SBU of Daicel Corporation (formerly Polyplastics), a global leader in engineering plastics, has launched four new DURACON® POM grades containing 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. This new PCR-POM offering includes Standard, Low VOC, Sliding, and Tough grades which enable customers to select the material that suits their applications needs.
These newly developed grades were first unveiled at CHINAPLAS 2026 held in Shanghai in April. The standard PCR-POM grade offers a melt flow rate of 9 while low VOC materials meet OEM requirements. Sliding grades offer significantly better sliding properties while tough materials deliver the same performance as virgin POM grades.
Since 2023, Daicel has offered DURACIRCLE® Re-Compounding Services which recycles plastic scrap collected from customer plants. While the previous focus was on post-industrial recycling (PIR) which reuses scrap generated during manufacturing, the PCR-POM currently under development utilizes POM that has been used in the market as a recycled raw material.
A major challenge in utilizing PCR materials is variability in properties and ensuring consistent quality. Leveraging its long-standing compounding expertise and quality control technologies, Daicel has confirmed that key mechanical properties remain at levels comparable to conventional grades, even with 30% recycled content (based on in-house test conditions).
DURACON® POM has been adopted across a wide range of industrial sectors. It features high mechanical strength/rigidity, excellent wear resistance, sliding properties, and high dimensional stability. It is widely used in applications such as gears, connectors, precision parts, and automotive components.
Daicel is undertaking further development activities with the aim of expanding its PCR-POM offering to meet a wider range of needs.
DURACON® is a registered trademark of Daicel Corporation in Japan and other countries.
