Compare These Top Vendors for Commodity Chemicals

Commodity chemicals are an important part of many businesses. When purchasing bulk chemicals, you may find that are a number of terms that you don't understand. For example, you may be looking for solvents, aromatics, plastics or olefins. It's also important to have the right storage containers. Knowing the terms that are associated with commodity chemicals will help you to make your purchases and ensure that your company is safe. Get started by learning some of the following terms.

Aromatics

Aromatics get their name from having a distinct smell. They come from crude oil and are primarily used as the starting base for a number of consumer goods, such as dyes, fibers and film.

Olefins

Olefins, or alkenes, are a chemical compound that is often used to make rubber and plastics. They have at lease one carbon to carbon bond. The term "olefin" is primarily used by those in the petrochemical industry, while other industries use alkenes.

Plastics

Plastics are a synthetic compound that can be molded into any shape. Creating plastics is one of the biggest uses of commodity chemicals.

Solvents

Solvents are a medium into which chemicals will dissolve. Water is a popular example of a solvent, because it will dissolve many types of chemicals. Solvents are present in a variety of products, including cleaning, food, and personal care products.

Petrochemicals

Essentially, petrochemicals are chemicals that are created from natural gas or petroleum. Petrochemicals are used in the making of fertilizers, plastics, rubbers and paints. The wide variety of uses make this a popular commodity chemical.

Chemical containers

Chemical containers are essential for the safety of your workers. Many chemicals are corrosive or can harm workers if not stored properly. Chemical containers are specially designed to hold chemicals. You can be sure that they will not spill or leak, creating a safer work environment.