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.
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 a highly usable product made from the petrochemicals that are produced when you refine petroleum. There are many different types of plastics that are created with petrochemicals and these include many types of thermoplastics. Thermoforming companies use thermoplastics to create a huge range of helpful products, including medical packaging, food packaging, agricultural packaging, electronic packaging and many other types of retail product packaging. The custom thermoformed packages are created by melting thermoplastic to a specific temperature and then forcing it into a mold and then trimming off the excess plastic. The excess can be recycled and used to make new items.
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.
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.
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 a highly usable product made from the petrochemicals that are produced when you refine petroleum. There are many different types of plastics that are created with petrochemicals and these include many types of thermoplastics. Thermoforming companies use thermoplastics to create a huge range of helpful products, including medical packaging, food packaging, agricultural packaging, electronic packaging and many other types of retail product packaging. The custom thermoformed packages are created by melting thermoplastic to a specific temperature and then forcing it into a mold and then trimming off the excess plastic. The excess can be recycled and used to make new items.
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.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform molding, please visit the Indepak site today.
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