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.
Many people mistakenly believe that dinosaurs are the source of petroleum. However, this is simply not true. Before dinosaurs existed, there was petroleum and the main "ingredients" are actual single-celled organisms such as algae and zooplankton which have been on Earth for billions of years. Petroleum is comprised of a variety of different hydrocarbons, which is simply a substance that created out of a specific number of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
Vehicle fuel, such as gasoline for internal combustion engines is what most of our petroleum is used to produce. However, other types of fuel also are created from petroleum such as kerosene, jet fuel, butane and even diesel fuel. The motor oil that lubricates our engines also is made from petroleum as well as many oils that used in many pieces of machinery. Our roads are paved using asphalt, which also is a petroleum-based product and asphalt has been used since ancient times.
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.
You might be surprised to learn that you actually know the names of some common types of this thermoplastic. Styrofoam, for instance, is a type of thermoplastic although that name refers to the brand and polystyrene is the proper name to use for this polymer. Another plastic we see and use a great deal is PVC or polyvinyl chloride. PVC pipes are durable and inexpensive, making them a highly used product by many industries. PVC also is used to make plastic flooring, signs and even furniture and simulated leather clothing.
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.
Many people mistakenly believe that dinosaurs are the source of petroleum. However, this is simply not true. Before dinosaurs existed, there was petroleum and the main "ingredients" are actual single-celled organisms such as algae and zooplankton which have been on Earth for billions of years. Petroleum is comprised of a variety of different hydrocarbons, which is simply a substance that created out of a specific number of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
Vehicle fuel, such as gasoline for internal combustion engines is what most of our petroleum is used to produce. However, other types of fuel also are created from petroleum such as kerosene, jet fuel, butane and even diesel fuel. The motor oil that lubricates our engines also is made from petroleum as well as many oils that used in many pieces of machinery. Our roads are paved using asphalt, which also is a petroleum-based product and asphalt has been used since ancient times.
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.
You might be surprised to learn that you actually know the names of some common types of this thermoplastic. Styrofoam, for instance, is a type of thermoplastic although that name refers to the brand and polystyrene is the proper name to use for this polymer. Another plastic we see and use a great deal is PVC or polyvinyl chloride. PVC pipes are durable and inexpensive, making them a highly used product by many industries. PVC also is used to make plastic flooring, signs and even furniture and simulated leather clothing.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell likes blogging about how stuff is made. To get further info about thermoform molding solutions, or to discover more about thermoformed plastics, please check out the Indepak.com site now.
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