This publication and the video, Slinky Scientific Shindig, made possible by Phillips Petroleum Company for National Engineers Week 1998. The technological road from oil field to finished plastic product has numerous fascinating side trips.
Petroleum is drilled and transported to a refinery.
Crude oil and natural gas are refined into ethane, propane, hundreds of other petrochemical products and, of course, fuel for your car. Fluff is combined with additives in a continuous blender. Polymer is fed to an extruder where it is melted. Melted plastic is cooled then fed to a pelletizer that cuts the product into small pellets. Pellets are shipped to customers.