Oil at home

Everything we do every day, one way or another connected with the objects and substances for which use oil. And plastic (easily molded polymers synthesized from monomers obtained at petrochemical plants) take here is perhaps the most important place. In the morning, we brush our teeth plastic toothbrush includes modern plastic kettle, watch the news on television, whose body is made of plastic ... Even this text can not be read if it were not plastic, which is made of many computer parts, as well as cable insulation, connecting us with a worldwide network. Appliances, furniture, toys, dishes, lamps, packaging, sports equipment - a list of things made of plastic is very long. But it is interesting that we do not always realize how many different types of plastics always passes through our hands.

Of ABS plastic makes appliances and large automotive parts, used in the manufacture of ethylene cable sheathing, shoe soles and toys, and of styrene produce stationery, plumbing and even refrigerators. Polyethylene is the most popular packaging material today. From it also makes bottles and other containers.

Polimetiletakrilat, in other words - the acrylic used to make points and lighting, polystyrene produce toys, stationery, packaging materials, polyurethane - mattresses, and shoe soles. And that's not all plastics that we face daily.

In addition to plastics, we often use a variety of objects made of rubber - from toys and sports equipment to the tires and gaskets in faucets. Traditionally, rubber produced by vulcanization of natural rubber, which was obtained from the sap of a tropical tree Hevea. However, in the early 20th century from butadiene, petrochemical product was synthesized butadiene rubber, and since then, the rubber is always possible to produce in sufficient quantities.



Another type of material to occupy an important place in our lives - a synthetic fabric. They are made from synthetic fibers, which are produced by the processing of synthetic polymers. The polymeric material is pressed through the finest holes, getting different kinds of synthetic yarn used to produce fabric. The most common synthetic fabrics are made of polyamide fibers - nylon, anid, Enanth - for which the feedstock use benzene and phenol. The range of use of these materials is very wide - from sewing thread to fishing nets and belts.

The first synthetic fiber nylon was produced in 1939. List of new materials has expanded rapidly. Bright, sometimes flexible, often nemnuschiesya artificial fabrics quickly became popular after the war, and gave rise to predictions that cotton and linen will soon go out of our lives. Of course, this did not happen, because initially synthetic fabrics bad "breathe" and was not pleasant to wear. Over time, they learned to give the desired properties, and have to combine them with natural fibers. Modern synthetics - it is quick drying, breathable and good heat-trapping fabric. They are comfortable to wear, and without them it is simply impossible to provide a comfortable sport and travel clothing. From durable synthetic fabrics make tents, parachutes, kites, sails. In addition, synthetic fabrics are used for decoration or furniture.



Among the most well-known synthetic fabrics - strong, not tearing nylon (polyamide), soft, wool-like acrylic, lycra, which is added in the natural and synthetic fabrics to give them flexibility, robust and mnuschayasya but not breathable polyester .

In addition to a variety of modern materials, from oil producing effective detergents and other household chemicals. The advantage of synthetic detergents to natural - particularly high detergency.

This once again confirms the validity of the established metaphors of "black gold": for oil, we must not only light, heat, and the ability to quickly move to different distances, but also domestic comfort, without which it is hard to imagine life.

Interesting Facts

At the University of Rhode Island has developed plastic that changes color from red to yellow at 82 degrees Celsius. The use of these materials is unlimited. Termochustvitelnaya plastic can be used for decorative purposes - of buildings, which change color depending on the temperature, and utilitarian - the packaging is made of this material, its color will tell how long the product were in a warm place.

Mass production of plastic details - combs, boxes, buttons, toys - began at the end of XIX century.

Every year the world produces about 180 million tons of plastic.

In the late 1950s in the United States in many towns sewage was overflowing with foam. It was found that soil bacteria that can process the soap, do not cope with synthetic detergents. The problem was solved by replacing the active substance to a close in structure to the soap.