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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 go to the Indepak.com website now.