Xylene
Xylene is a colourless liquid deriving from crude oil or coal tar. There are several chemical forms of xylene; among these, paraxylene is commercially the most important. Paraxylene is used to make polyesters, which have applications in clothing, packaging and plastic bottles. The most widely-used polyester is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used in lightweight, recyclable soft drink bottles, as well as in fibres for clothing, and fillings for anoraks and duvets, in car tyre cords and conveyor belts. It can also be made into a film used in video and audio tapes, as well as in x-ray films.
Another chemical form of xylene, orthoxylene, is used to make pipes, coatings and cables for medical application.
