From Magma to Plastic

Plastics are formed from petroleum, which consists of a mixture of organic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons.

In a refinery, crude oil is distilled and various fractions are produced: naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, paraffinic mass, lubricating oil and bitumen.

To synthesize plastics, the material from the naphtha fraction must be subjected to a pyrolysis process (heating in the presence of a catalyst). After this process, basic petrochemicals such as ethylene and propylene are formed. Basic petrochemicals are further refined and transformed into fine petrochemicals such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.