When you hear the word petroleum, most of us think about the gasoline that powers our cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles. However, petroleum is used for many things other than fuel including plastics and pharmaceuticals. Because petroleum is such an important part of our daily lives, it is wise to learn a little bit about this substance.
Petroleum isn't something that was discovered when we invented automobiles, this sticky black, brown or yellow substances has been used for thousands of years. The word is actually made out of the Greek words Petra ("rock) and Oleum ("oil). Ancient Greeks and many other people used this sticky, flammable substance as a source of light as well as using it to cover cuts and gashes, particular on livestock. Greek Fire, a notorious ancient weapon, probably was partially made using petroleum because not only did it burn for a long time, it also burned even if it was in water, so the enemy could not easily stop the fire.
Petroleum is called a hydrocarbon, which is a name that is given to any organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon. These carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms combine in different weights to produce the various gases, liquids and solids that you find in petroleum. For example, one of the gases in petroleum is propane, which is a source of fuel for many people around the world. While petroleum is a type of fossil fuel, it is not the fossils of dinosaurs that have created petroleum but rather the fossils of ancient algae and other types of single cell plants and 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.
Many of the plastics that are used to produce a huge variety of items are made from petrochemicals, which are chemicals produced as a result of processing or refining petroleum. Most thermoplastics are made from petroleum-based substances. Food packaging, medical packaging, electronic packaging and many other types of retail product packaging is made from thermoplastic, which is a type of plastic that can be heated and molded into just about any shape. Thermoforming companies can create customized packaging for their clients using a variety of these petroleum-based thermoplastics.
There are many common forms of plastic derived from petroleum or rather petrochemicals. Polyvinyl chloride, for example, is one type of plastic that we use to make many products and most people simply just know this as PVC. It commonly is used to make pipes, but also used to produce signs, furniture, shower curtains, flooring and much more. Polystyrene is another petroleum-based plastic and is more commonly known as Styrofoam.
Petroleum isn't something that was discovered when we invented automobiles, this sticky black, brown or yellow substances has been used for thousands of years. The word is actually made out of the Greek words Petra ("rock) and Oleum ("oil). Ancient Greeks and many other people used this sticky, flammable substance as a source of light as well as using it to cover cuts and gashes, particular on livestock. Greek Fire, a notorious ancient weapon, probably was partially made using petroleum because not only did it burn for a long time, it also burned even if it was in water, so the enemy could not easily stop the fire.
Petroleum is called a hydrocarbon, which is a name that is given to any organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon. These carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms combine in different weights to produce the various gases, liquids and solids that you find in petroleum. For example, one of the gases in petroleum is propane, which is a source of fuel for many people around the world. While petroleum is a type of fossil fuel, it is not the fossils of dinosaurs that have created petroleum but rather the fossils of ancient algae and other types of single cell plants and 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.
Many of the plastics that are used to produce a huge variety of items are made from petrochemicals, which are chemicals produced as a result of processing or refining petroleum. Most thermoplastics are made from petroleum-based substances. Food packaging, medical packaging, electronic packaging and many other types of retail product packaging is made from thermoplastic, which is a type of plastic that can be heated and molded into just about any shape. Thermoforming companies can create customized packaging for their clients using a variety of these petroleum-based thermoplastics.
There are many common forms of plastic derived from petroleum or rather petrochemicals. Polyvinyl chloride, for example, is one type of plastic that we use to make many products and most people simply just know this as PVC. It commonly is used to make pipes, but also used to produce signs, furniture, shower curtains, flooring and much more. Polystyrene is another petroleum-based plastic and is more commonly known as Styrofoam.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. To get further information about thermoform molding solutions, or to discover more about thermoformed plastics, please go to the Indepak.com site today.
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