So, we should know by now that a lot of the
things that make our lives safer and easier were made with the input of
aromatics – from medicines and hygienic food-packaging through to
sports equipment and computers.
That is our day-to-day environment. Today. What about other, far-fetched
applications? What about tomorrow?
Science and technology are not sitting back, smugly satisfied with their
achievements so far. They go on and on and on. Think "special effects",
for example. The mind-boggling images that we are shown at the cinema
today. Dinosaurs have been particularly popular in the last few years...
Once a dinosaur has been modelled by a computer, it is machine- and then
hand-sculpted in 
polyurethane
foam – a derivative of toluene.
Then a set of moulds are made of the sculpture; and these moulds are in
epoxy, a strong
and durable resin
initially derived from cumene.
Finally, a light, spongy synthetic foam rubber
is used to create the incredibly life-like "skin" of the dinosaur.
Aromatics from start to finish...
More seriously, state-of-the art end uses of aromatics also include life-saving
devices, such as the bullet-resistant vests worn by the police forces.
Often, these are made from a special rigid kind of nylon,
a well-known product derived from benzene
through cyclohexane.
When we say "nylon", we usually think about nylon tights –
this see-through, elegant, basically flimsy material. But the kind of
nylon used to manufacture these vests are about five times as strong as
steel! Not only that, but they don't make it difficult for officers to
move and run; they are so thin that they can be disguised under street
clothes when necessary. We are very far from the Middle Ages knights'
chain-mail...
These are just examples – you can be sure that scientists, technology
experts... and aromatics producers have a lot more up their sleeves. Check
out this section regularly!