Oops! Before you slip on dioctyl adipate, it may be advisable to let you know that Chemistry, basic to so many activities, is present in places few would imagine – like our daily floor. Today, willing or unwillingly, stepping on Chemistry became practically a must. At home, in the office and even out on the street, there is Chemistry, at our feet, offering protection, beauty and safety.

Look at the floor? Is it carpeted? Then you are, most probably, stepping on nylon, that has as raw materials adiponitrile or caprolactam, which, even with that name, has nothing to do with a Latin expression. Back to the floor. Or to the carpet that may have been manufactured of polypropylene one of the synthetic fibers developed by the petrochemical industry. Ah! Do you prefer wooden floors? Then you should realize that the wooden shine that makes you so proud would never happen without the help of solvents and resins offered by Chemistry for the production of varnishes. If you are now on a plastic floor, it is almost sure that under your feet there is polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC.

Let us walk a little further. Have you stopped to think that, without the help of Chemistry, many sports races and events would have to be postponed? That’s right. In many fields and courts, there is Chemistry glued to the floor, in an almost perfect imitation of nature. Correct: the synthetic lawns, produced of polyethylene or polypropylene, are one more of the practical applications of Chemistry. There are times, however, in which it is not so easy to recognize the presence of Chemistry. How many times have we driven on asphalt on top of a road support of expanded polystyrene? Am I kidding? Of course not! The use of expanded polystyrene in road construction is a relatively recent technology that offers several benefits. Among them less wear of the asphalt layer. And talking about roads, look ahead to the middle of the road, where our untiring friend, Chemistry, is showing curves to you, indicating the directions and the passing areas, with the pigments, solvents and resins that constitute the traffic paints of the yellow or white bands.

Yes, as you have noticed by now, it is very convenient to have Chemistry as a companion, even if it is on the floor.

Text: Luiz Carlos de Medeiros (Mtb 12.293) English version by Joe Vianna (translat@mvpisp.com)