Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Analysis of POM with other Plastics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Comparative Analysis of POM with Other Plastics:

Some of the key advantages and limitations of POM compared to other plastics are highlighted below:

POM vs Nylon

• POM has lower moisture absorption and better dimensional stability than nylon
• It has higher tensile strength, hardness and modulus than nylon
• Nylon offers higher toughness, ductility and impact strength compared to POM
• Nylon has better chemical resistance than POM, especially to bases, oils and greases
• POM provides lower coefficient of friction than nylon

POM vs Polycarbonate

• POM has much higher strength, hardness and stiffness than polycarbonate
• PC offers very high impact resistance compared to brittle
• POMPolycarbonate has superior temperature resistance up to 140°C vs 90°C for POM
• POM has lower moisture absorption and better dimensional stability
• PC has higher ductility and fracture toughness compared to POM

POM vs Polyimide

• Polyimide can withstand much higher temperatures than POM
• It has excellent strength retention at high temperatures vs POM
• POM offers better impact strength and machinability
• Polyimide has superior wear resistance and chemical resistance
• POM has lower density and moisture absorption compared to polyimide

source:beeplastic.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : THE REAL SCENARIO IN EUROPE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Europe is….

losing chemical capacity….

at high pace……

Imports from China are up 27%, deliveries from the US have increased by 17%, while more than 20% of European chemical production has been lost since 2021, much of it permanently. This is not a temporary cycle but a structural change in global competitiveness.

Producers in China and the US benefit from lower energy costs, significant overcapacity, and supportive trade frameworks. European producers, by contrast, face persistently high costs, lengthy approval processes, and regulatory uncertainty. Under these conditions, competing on price alone becomes increasingly difficult.

The impact is visible across the value chain. Plants are being shut down, integrated sites are weakened, and interconnected chemical clusters are at risk. Calls for protective measures are therefore understandable, but protection alone will not secure Europe’s industrial base.

What Europe needs is a clear focus on competitiveness, affordable and reliable energy, faster permitting, realistic transformation pathways, and an industrial policy that balances ambition with economic feasibility. Without a strong base chemical industry, downstream sectors such as pharmaceuticals, materials, and the energy transition itself are put at risk.

The key question is no longer whether capacity will leave Europe, but how much, and how quickly.

source : Markus Hartung

#ChemicalIndustry

🍽️ Rethinking Waste, Powering Travel 🚍

 In Sweden, yesterday’s food scraps are powering today’s buses, trucks, and garbage collection vehicles. What sounds futuristic is already a reality—and a blueprint for circular, low-carbon cities.

Here’s how it works:

👉 Households separate food waste from other trash.

👉 Waste is collected and sent to biogas plants.

👉 Through anaerobic digestion, organic leftovers are transformed into bio-CNG (compressed natural gas).

👉 This clean, renewable fuel powers public transport, closing the loop between consumption and energy.

🌱 Why it matters for climate and cities:

Each ton of food waste diverted prevents the release of methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO₂.

Cities reduce dependence on fossil fuels while lowering air pollution.

Public transport becomes greener, cheaper, and circular, demonstrating that everyday waste can be a valuable energy resource.

Sweden’s approach proves that solutions to climate challenges don’t always require high-tech innovation—sometimes, it’s about rethinking what is considered waste. Scaling this globally could drastically cut urban emissions, improve air quality, and accelerate the transition to Net Zero.

Food waste isn’t just trash—it’s an untapped energy goldmine. Circular thinking can turn yesterday’s leftovers into tomorrow’s clean energy, powering cities while protecting the climate.

Would you ride a bus fueled by last night’s dinner? The future of sustainable transport might be closer than it seems.

Image Credit: Wangechi Kuria

source : Waste Innovation Stories