Polyoxymethylene composition in food handling applications

A molded article formed from a polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising a polyoxymethylene polymer present in the polymer composition in an amount greater than about 60% by weight, the polyoxymethylene polymer having a melt volume flow rate of from about 1 cm3 per 10 min to about 80 cm3 per 10 min when tested at a temperature of 190° C. and at a load of 2.16 kg, the polyoxymethylene polymer comprising a polyoxymethylene copolymer having terminal hydroxyl groups, the polyoxymethylene polymer having a content of terminal hydroxyl groups of at least 5 mmol/kg, and wherein, in addition to terminal hydroxyl groups, the terminal groups of the polyoxymethylene polymer only including alkoxy groups, formate groups, acetate groups, aldehyde groups, or a combination thereof, talc being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 1% by weight, an acid scavenger comprising a carboxylic acid salt, the acid scavenger being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 1% by weight, a lubricant being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 1% by weight, an antioxidant comprising a sterically hindered phenol, the antioxidant being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 0.75% by weight, wherein the polymer composition comprises one or more coloring agents, the one or more coloring agents comprising lead in an amount less than 50 ppm and zinc in an amount less than 100 ppm, and wherein the polymer composition is free of all formaldehyde scavengers and displays a formaldehyde emission of less than about 15 ppm when tested according to VDA Test 275 and displays a formaldehyde extractable content of less than 15 ppm when tested according to a formaldehyde extractable test in water at a temperature of 40° ° C. for 10 days, and wherein the polymer composition contains no polymeric nucleant, the polymer composition exhibiting a tensile modulus of greater than about 2,000 MPa, a notched Charpy impact strength at 23° C. of greater than about 5 KJ/m2, and exhibiting a notched Charpy impact strength at −30° C. of greater than about 5 KJ/m2.

A polymer composition comprising:

• a polyoxymethylene polymer present in the polymer composition in an amount greater than about 60% by weight, the polyoxymethylene polymer having a melt volume flow rate of from about 1 cm3 per 10 min to about 80 cm3 per 10 min when tested at a temperature of 190° C. and at a load of 2.16 kg, the polyoxymethylene polymer comprising a polyoxymethylene copolymer having terminal hydroxyl groups, the polyoxymethylene polymer having a content of terminal hydroxyl groups of at least 5 mmol/kg, and wherein, in addition to terminal hydroxyl groups, the terminal groups of the polyoxymethylene polymer only including alkoxy groups, formate groups, acetate groups, aldehyde groups, or a combination thereof;
• a talc, the talc being present in the polymer composition in an amount of at least about 0.05 wt. % and less than about 2 wt. %;
• an antioxidant;
• an acid scavenger;
• one or more coloring agents, wherein the one or more coloring agents are present in the polymer composition in conjunction with a dispersing agent, the dispersing agent comprising a polyethylene polymer, the polyethylene polymer having a molecular weight of from about 500 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol, the polyethylene polymer being non-polar;
• and
• wherein the polymer composition is free of all formaldehyde scavengers and displays a formaldehyde emission of less than about 15 ppm when tested according to VDA Test 275 and displays a formaldehyde extractable content of less than 15 ppm when tested according to a formaldehyde extractable test in water at a temperature of 40° C. for 10 days, and wherein the polymer composition contains no polymeric nucleant.