An engineer scoops a handful of tiny pellets out of a stainless-steel canister at a manufacturing plant in the Netherlands and rolls them around in his hand.
From the wings and fuselage to the seats and overhead bins, petrochemicals have been increasingly relied upon to make passenger aircraft lighter and stronger, cutting fuel use and costs and making air travel more sustainable at a time when more people are flying than ever before.
Many waste items provide important value before being tossed into a bin. Discarded plastic products, for example, originally serve as packaging to keep school lunches fresh, lightweight bottles for efficiently transporting fresh water to hard-to-reach areas, containers for soaps and detergents that facilitate hygiene – and much more.
Neil Armstrong made history 50 years ago when he stepped off the Apollo 11 lunar module and onto the surface of the moon — the first human to set foot on the earth’s natural satellite.
In the days before stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, keeping muddy dogs and kids’ shoes off the furniture and out of the living room was a full-time job.
As research continues to yield breakthroughs in modern transportation, the evidence clearly shows that petrochemicals are integral to the future of travel.
Every day, AFPM members make products that improve our lives and contribute to human progress — including fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel that facilitate access to vital health services, and petrochemicals used as building blocks to create healthcare equipment, devices and technologies.
Athletes gathering for the winter Paralympics in South Korea this month are remarkable examples of how people overcome challenges – and new technologies are increasingly helping these impressive athletes push their limits by doing more, going faster or going farther.
Dan’s legs – and his life – were saved, thanks to the fellow firefighters that pulled him out of danger and his personal protective equipment (PPE), also known as turnout gear, gear that’s made possible by petrochemicals.