Petrochemical Use in Transportation: The Automobile

1.SeatBelts 9.Instrument 9 Instrument Panel 8.GasTanks 7.Wiresand 7 Wires and Cables

6.Gear Housing 5.SeatingCushions andPadding

4.Interiorand External Panels ExternalPanels 3.Bumpers 2.Tires

About 600 pounds of petrochemical-derived plastics, petrochemical derived plastics composites, rubber, coating and textile products are used in the average vehicle accounting for about 15% of the total vehicle weight.
Exterior of automobile Interior of automobile Internal components of automobile

Petrochemicals and Fuel Efficiency: Plastics in vehicles play a prominent role in fuel efficiency. One pound of petrochemical-based plastics in a modern car replaces approximately 2 to 3 pounds of traditional materials. This helps minimize environmental impact and saves non-renewable resources by cutting fuel consumption. For every 10 percent of weight eliminated from a vehicles total weight, fuel economy improves by 7 percent. The more than 330 pounds of plastic/composites used in the average vehicle reduce its weight by 330 to 660 pounds, improving an average fuel economy by 6 to 11 percent. The following petrochemical-based plastics, not only improve fuel efficiency, but improve safety in the automobile. 1. Seat Belts: Approximately 90 million seat belt units are sold in the U.S. annually and are estimated to save to close to 10,000 lives a year. Automotive seat belts are made pound for pound from the petrochemical precursors paraxylene (aromatic) and ethylene (olefin). 2. Tires: Approximately 200 millions tires are used in both new and used vehicles. Cars and light vehicles vehicles in the U.S. annually consume over 1.7 billion pounds of petrochemicals, of which 40% of the materials in the tire are derived from petrochemicals, including styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR), polyisoprene, and the fabric made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or nylon. 3. Bumpers: M d with the petrochemical polypropylene. 3 B Made i h h h i l l l 4. Interior and External Panels: Made with the petrochemical polypropylene 5. Seating Cushions and Padding: Polyurethanes are used for seating cushions and padding. 6. Gear Housing: Nylons are used where a higher level of strength and better heat distortion are required, in g y g g q , such intricate parts such as the gear housing. 7. Wires and Cables: Cross-linked low density polyethylene (LDPE) with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or, PVC is used for wire and cable in the automotive industry. 8. Gas T k Polyethylene is mainly used in gas tank applications, as the high-density polyethylene 8 G Tank: P l th l i i l di t k li ti th hi h d it l th l (HDPE) tanks are inert to the corrosive environments inside and outside of the tank. 9. Instrument Panel: Polycarbonate is used as a substitute for glass in relevant applications, because of its impact resistance, durability, and clarity. Polycarbonate and ABS ( p y y y (PC/ABS) blends are used in the ) instrument panel of an automobile because of mechanical performance and good aesthetics.
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Petrochemical Use in Transportation: Interior of Commercial Aircraft

7.Overhead StowageBins

6.LightCovers

5.UpperSidewall 5 U Sid ll Panel 8.Windows 4.LowerSidewall Panel P l

2.Seats
The interiors of all commercial aircraft contain a significant percentage of reinforced p g p g plastics made from petrochemicals to make a variety of essential functions and comforts for the consumer while in flight.

3.GalleyMats

1.FloorandFloor Covering C i
3

1. Floor and Floor Coverings: Made from fiberglass or carbon/epoxy or g g p y phenolic/Nomex honeycomb for the floor panels. Wool or nylon are used in the carpet with double-backed tapes to attach carpet to floor and a Nomex felt underlay. underlay 2. Seats: Made from wool, wool/nylon, or leather upholstery with urethane foam cushions. 3. 3 Galley Mats: Made from the petrochemical polyvinyl chloride (PVC). (PVC) 4. Lower Sidewall Panels: Made from fiberglass or carbon/phenolic/Nomex honeycomb with a scuff-resistant surface (wool or Nomex fabric, or tough plastic). l i ) 5. Upper Sidewall Panels: Made from fiberglass or carbon/phenolic/decorative thermoplastic layer. 6. Light Covers: Made from the petrochemical polycarbonate. 7. Overhead Stowage Bins: Made from fiberglass or carbon/phenolic/Nomex y g y honeycomb with an edge urethane foam layer. 8. Windows: The outer panel is made from stretched acrylic; inner pane cast acrylic; dust cover polycarbonate or acrylic. Items not shown: Flotation Foams: Are made from polyethylene foam. S t Trays: Are made f Seat T A d from th thermoplastic. l ti
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Petrochemical Use in Military Protective Wear

6.TacticalInsertion 6 T ti l I ti Accessories 3.MilitaryHelmet y

5.MilitaryPacks

4.MilitaryVests

1.ArmyCombat Uniforms

50 to 100 percent of military protective gear and the immediate accessories are composed of materials derived from petrochemicals. A typical soldiers equipment is comprised of approximately 34-35 pounds of petrochemicals or approximately 80% of the total weight of equipment.

2.MilitaryCombat Boots 5

1. Army Combat Uniforms (ACU): Blend of cotton and nylon, a synthetic fiber produced from petrochemical derivatives including hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid. ACU was designed by soldiers to meet the demands of the current operational environment by increasing a soldiers ability to train, adapt and fight in ever-changing environments. Approximately 50% of the ACU is made of nylon. 2. Military Combat Boots: Utilize a blend of natural and synthetic materials, with over 50% of the boot being made materials that have their origin from crude oil or natural gas. Synthetic materials such as polyurethane, nylon fabric and synthetic rubbers are all used in the military combat boot. 3. 3 Military Helmets: Made of synthetic materials such as Spectra Shield material (which contains a very high molecular weight, high density polyethylene). Helmets can also be made of Kevlar, another synthetic material derived from petrochemicals. t h i l 4. Military Vests: Made from Kevlar, a carbon-based aramid (a term invented as an abbreviation for aromatic polyamide, or aromatic nylon fiber). 5. Military Packs: Made of 100% nylon. 6. Tactical Insertion Accessories: 100% petrochemical-based materials. The p p g material for the rope used when soldiers are fast-roping is from crude oil or natural gas to ethylene to Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE).
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Petrochemical Use in Medicine

4.BloodBags 2.FaceMasksin Medical/Surgical Applications 7.SurgicalGloves 7. Surgical Gloves

8.HandSanitizer 1.Medical& SurgicalGowns 6.Sutures

5.Catheters/Tubing Nearly 100 percent of all medical items listed are made entirely from petrochemicals and amount to almost 6 pounds. Sutures can contain up to 50-100 percent petrochemicals. Nearly 90 percent of Aspirin contains petrochemicals or some 40 million pounds. Approximately 65 percent of hand sanitizer is made from petrochemicals with nearly 10 million pounds of hand sanitizers being produced annually.

9.Aspirin 3.WoundCare 3. Wound Care 7

1. Medical and Surgical Gowns: Reusable medical and surgical gowns are typically 50/50 blend f tt bl d of cotton and polyester, rayon and polyester or similar blended material. Disposable d l t d l t i il bl d d t i l Di bl gowns, use polypropylene as the main material. Polyester are also used in scrubs. Surgical gowns can be made of specialty polyolefins, nonwoven polyproylene, laminated polypropylene/polyethylene, polypropylene/polyethylene laminated polyester/wood pulp and other tech fabrics tech-fabrics derived from petrochemicals. 2. Face Masks in Medical/Surgical Applications: Made from spun-bond irradiated polypropylene, polypropylene meltblown polyproplene soft latex-free elastic polyproplene, elastic. 3. Wound Care: Made from polyester or polyester blends with rayon, wood pulp or other inert material, such as polyurethane, hydrogels, and elastomers. 4. Blood Bags: Made from polyolefin (polyethylene and polypropylene). 5. Catheters/Tubing: Made from PVC and is the preferred material used as tubing for medical applications. PVC tubes coated with Teflon (PTFE), blends of polyether-ester, y p y g ethylene acid copolymer are also used in medical tubing and catheters. 6. Sutures: Absorbable sutures contain polyglactin, polylactonone, polysorb. NonAbsorbable sutures contain nylon, PET, PP, and Polybutester. 7. Surgical Gloves: Contain the petrochemicals latex, polyisoprene, nitrile and neoprene. 8. Hand Sanitizer: Major ingredients found in Purell and like hand sanitizers are ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol 9. Aspirin: Product made from phenol is salicylic acid and a derivative acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

Petrochemical Use in Personal Protective Equipment

4.FaceMask 7.Footwear 7 F 2.Protective Helmets

6.Hearing Protection

5.Respiratory Equipment

p Around 80 to 100 percent of the materials used in the production of the personal protective equipment originate from petrochemicals.

3.SafetyGoggles

1.Clothing

1. Protective Clothing: Made from many different varieties of petrochemicals. One of the most widely used fabrics is Nomex, an aramid fiber made by Dupont. 2. Protective Helmets: Made with synthetic materials made from petrochemical derivatives. Hard hat shells may be made of a thermoplastic, such as polyethylene or polycarbonate resin, or of other materials like resin-impregnated textiles. Also, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), nylon, vinyl, Kevlar and Twaron are used in making a variety of different helmets. 3. Safety Goggles: Made from plastics such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). 4. 4 Face Mask: The simplest face masks are a formed piece of nonwoven polypropylene fabric. A more elaborate face mask with a visor that covers the entire face are made from acetate or polycarbonates. 5. Respiratory E i 5 R i t Equipment: A f t facemask and respirator are made with the k d i t d ith th petrochemicals polyurethane memory foam, polypropylene, elastomer, and acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene (ABS). 6. Hearing Protection: In the form of ear plugs are typically made of polyurethane foam with memory. Ear muffs are 90% petrochemical-based and p y , ,p y contain polyurethane, ABS, polyolefin and elastomer. 7. Protective Footwear: Made from neoprene or other butyl rubber formulations, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymer-composite, and Kevlar.
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Petrochemical Use in Consumer Electronics

2.Computers 1.DVDandCD Player 7.CellPhones 14.Freezer 3.Microchips 3 Mi hi 13.Refrigerator

Electronics

Appliances

12.Dishwasher

5.Phone 5. Phone 4.Radio Home electronics and appliance pp products contain up to 40% or more of plastics derived from petrochemicals. 8.Air Conditioner 9.Furnace 6.TVs 10.Washing 11 Machine 11.Water Heater

1. 2.

3. 4. 4 5. 6.

7. 8.

9.

10. 10

11.

12.

13.

14.

DVD & CD Player: Plastic is the main component of CDs and DVDs. Most CDs and DVDs are made of polycarbonate, which is derived from benzene and propylene. Computers: Data shows old cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors ranged from 13 to 38% plastics, while LCD displays used now range from 32 to 41 percent plastics A wider variety of plastics is used in the more modern LCD displays including polycarbonate (PC) polyacetate (PA) and plastics. (PC), (PA), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Other petrochemical-derived plastics include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high impact polystryrene (HIPS), expandable polystyrene (EPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethylene (PE). Microchips: Made from petrochemical products. Radio: Made from petrochemical products. R di M d f h i l d Telephone: Made from Petrochemical products. TVs: Data shows old cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions ranged from 13 to 38% plastics, while LCD displays used now range from 32 to 41 percent plastics. A wider variety of plastics is used in the more modern LCD displays including polycarbonate (PC), polyacetate (PA), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Other petrochemical-derived plastics include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high impact polystryrene (HIPS), expandable polystyrene (EPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethylene (PE). Cell Phones: Made from petrochemical products. Air Conditioner: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as the air conditioner, including synthetic rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common petrochemicals used in appliances are polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). Furnace: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as furnaces, including synthetic rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common petrochemicals used in appliances are polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). Washing Machine: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as the washing machine, including synthetic appliances machine rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common petrochemicals used in appliances are polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). Water Heater: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as the water heater, including synthetic rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common petrochemicals used in appliances are polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) li l th (PU) l it il b t di t l (ABS) l t d l l (PP). Dish Washer: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as the dish washer, including synthetic rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common petrochemicals used in appliances are polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). Refrigerator: Contains acyrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is used in refrigerator liners and other components. High impact polystyrene (HIPS) is used in trim, racks and similar appliance components. Where cold temperature impact properties are not important, polypropylene (PP) is used. About 375 million pounds of ABS resins are used in refrigerator and freezer liners and other components, while over 325 million pounds of polystyrene is used in the trim, racks, buckets, liners, trays, covers and similar appliance components. Freezer: Petrochemicals are used extensively in the manufacture of home appliances, such as the freezer, including synthetic rubber used in hoses, belts, and gaskets as well as plastic resins, p , g p , plasticizers, and other additives and coatings. The more common p , g petrochemicals used in appliances are pp polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile=butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP).

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Petrochemical Use in Renewable Energy gy

Wind Turbine Blades

45 percent of wind turbine blades 45 are made up of petrochemical based materials. g g A large wind turbine containing 30 to 50 meter long blades would contain 27,000 pounds of p petrochemical-based products. p

Solar Glazing
Solar cells use glazing that is made Solar of petrochemicals Solar cells also use new, novel p petrochemicals for casing of the g photovoltaic (PV) modules and sometimes are the substrates themselves.
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Petrochemical Use in Transportation: Exterior of Commercial Aircraft

Boeing 787s body will be composed of over 50% of reinforced plastics. The new 787 Dreamliner will be 20% more fuel efficient saving more than 260,000 g g , gallons of fuel per year over a comparable size due to the light weights of petrochemicals being used to form the exterior of the aircraft. The approximate weight of carbon fiber reinforced plastics is 70,000 pounds in one aircraft. Carbon reinforced plastics contain the petrochemicals polycarbonates, maleic anhydride polycarbonates compatabilizers, nylons and epoxy resin Chemical precursors used are epicholorhydrin, epoxy resin, bisphenol A, acrylonitrile, acetohydrin, propylene, butadiene, cumene and benzene. Almost 800 Boeing 787s are on backorder
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