Texas History
Fort Burrows
“We can draw from our past, but we cannot live in it.”
LBJ
18.4 - Petrochemical Industry
READ pgs 443-445
Main Idea:
Vast oil reserves led to the rise of the Petrochemical Industry. This brought
many new businesses and challenges to Texas.
Vocabulary:
petrochemical - substance made from oil or natural gas
Examples: plastics, detergents, fertilizers, pesticides, synthetic rubber…
carbon black - fine, black powder made by heating oil/natural gas to a high
temperature
Examples: synthetic rubber, inks, plastics…
ethylene - colorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon produced by pyrolysis
( heating ) of petroleum hydrocarbons
Examples: cleaning agents and anti-freeze
benzene - colorless flammable toxin liquid aromatic hydrocarbon
Examples: motor oil, paints, glues…
Setting the Scene:
A huge explosion ripped apart Texas City docks. A ship filled with ammonium
nitrate fertilizer had caught fire, with devastating results. The fire quickly spread to
chemical plants and oil tanks near the docks. Those exploded, too, and spread the fire.
The next day, another ship that held the same cargo exploded. The explosions caused
a 15 foot tidal wave that flooded the city. Ken LeMaet, a resident of the city, recalled
what happened in the days that followed.
“There was nothing but
Petrochemical
 The history of petrochemical products actually dates back to ancient Egypt.
Products we know today as ethylene and polyethylene were made by the ancient
Egyptians. They were smart enough to know that when the fig plant was gassed, it
would stimulate ripening, and this process released the ethylene which was/is
produced organically in the plant.
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Texas History
Fort Burrows
Carbon Black
 In 1923, the 1st carbon black plant was built in Texas. It was used to make
synthetic rubber, inks, and plastics. The first Texas plant to manufacture carbon
black by burning residue gas from gasoline plants was constructed in Stephens
County
 Carbon black is produced from "sour" gas - natural gas
 J. K. Wright, a Philadelphia ink maker, discovered the process of manufacturing
carbon black in 1864
 After 1915 carbon black became widely used as a reinforcing agent in the
production of automobile tires
 By 1926, 10 carbon black plants existed in Texas
o 7 in Stephens County
o 2 in Eastland County
o 1 in Hutchinson County
o Texas produced 20 percent of the nation's output of carbon black
Petrochemical Industry in Texas
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During the WWII, the need for petrochemicals grew
Military needed synthetic rubber for tires and they needed explosives for bombs
After World War II, new petrochemical companies came to Texas
The Texas Gulf Coast became the center of the American petrochemical industry
Impact of Oil
 1965 - carbon black made in Texas was an estimated $90 million dollar business
 Taxes helped pay for schools and roads
 1967 - created about 45,000 jobs
1.
2.
A petrochemical is a substance made from
A. coal
C. manufactured chemicals
B. synthetics
D. oil or natural gas
What is used to make synthetic rubber, inks, and plastics ?
A. compost
B. carbon black
C. coal
D. natural gas
3.
Which products are made from petrochemicals ?
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Texas History
Fort Burrows
Petrochemical
Industry
Benefited the
economy
Created many
jobs
Created air and
water pollution
Created new
oil-related
businesses
Pollution was
linked to major
concerns
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