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Sabtu, 28 Desember 2013

The Facts About Petrochemicals

By Lenna Stockwell


When we think about petroleum, most people probably just think about gas or oil. While the use of petroleum as a fuel is it biggest use, the byproducts produced by refining petroleum are used to make a huge variety of products that we use every day, from toothbrushes to parts of our cell phones and computers. Petroleum is a huge part of our lives, so here are a few facts that will help you understand this substance a little bit better.

While we typically mine or drill for petroleum, it actually does seep up from beneath the surface of the ground and has for hundreds of thousands of years. The word petroleum has existed for thousands of years, as well, and is a mix of the Greek words for oil and rock. Before we had cars, petroleum was used as a source of light and even had medicinal uses and possibly was used to create a weapon that was called Greek Fire.

Petroleum is a mix of hydrocarbons, which is a type of organic compound that is made from hydrogen and carbon. Some of the petroleum, such as methane, propane and butane, exists as gases. Other heavier hydrocarbons are in either liquid or solid form. Petroleum also is called a fossil fuel, and while many people believe that petroleum is what remains of ancient dinosaurs, the truth is that petroleum began forming long before dinosaurs roamed the earth and is mostly comprised of algae and other single-celled organisms.

While most people know that petroleum is processed to produce gasoline, there are certainly other important fuels made from petroleum. This includes fuel for jet planes and diesel engines, as well as fuel sources such as kerosene and also butane. Motor oil is yet another substance that comes from refining petroleum. Asphalt, which is used to pave roads, is another product that comes from this sticky substance. It is interesting to note that asphalt has been used for many centuries.

Plastic is another important product that is often produced using petrochemicals, or rather chemicals that are taken from petroleum. Many thermoplastics are made out of petrochemicals. Many products are made out of thermoplastics, including a huge variety of retail product packaging such as food packaging, electronic packaging and medical packaging. A thermoforming company designs many types of customized packaging for its clients by heating up large, thin sheets of plastic and molding them into whatever shape is needed by a client.

If you've ever heard of PVC, then you already know about one type of thermoplastic that is created from petrochemicals. As we all know, many pipes are produced using PVC, but other items such as flooring and signs also are made using PVC. If you have ever had a cup of coffee in a Styrofoam cup, then you are familiar with another type of plastic produced from petrochemicals. Styrofoam is actually a brand name for a type of plastic that is actually called polystyrene.




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