Daicel Launches New POM Plastic Line With 30% Recycled Content

Osaka, Japan – Daicel Corporation's High Performance Polymers (HPPs) SBU has launched four new grades of DURACON® POM (polyoxymethylene) that contain 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. This new offering of recycled POM plastic includes standard, low VOC, sliding, and tough grades, allowing customers to select materials suitable for their specific applications.

The new grades, first unveiled at CHINAPLAS 2026 in Shanghai in April, are positioned to meet growing demand for sustainable materials in the engineering plastics sector. The standard PCR-POM grade features a melt flow rate of 9, while the low VOC materials meet automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements. The sliding grades offer improved frictional properties, and the tough grades are designed to match the performance of virgin POM.

Daicel has been involved in plastic recycling since 2023 with its DURACIRCLE® service, which reclaims scrap from customer manufacturing plants. While previous efforts focused on post-industrial recycling (PIR), these new PCR-POM grades utilize POM that has already been used in the market as a recycled raw material, marking an advancement in circular economy initiatives. The company states that its long-standing compounding expertise and quality control technologies have ensured key mechanical properties remain comparable to conventional grades, even with the 30% recycled content.

DURACON® POM is widely adopted across various industrial sectors, known for its high mechanical strength, excellent wear resistance, sliding properties, and dimensional stability. Applications include gears, connectors, precision parts, and automotive components. Daicel indicates further development is underway to expand its range of recycled POM offerings.