A raw material can be converted into a product through an industrial process.
A raw material is an element that can be transformed into a different product through an industrial process . To understand the notion, it is important to analyze the terms that compose it.
Matter is that which forms the physical universe. It is a reality that can be perceived through the senses and that is differentiated from other material realities based on certain characteristics.
Cousin (or prima ), meanwhile, has several uses. In this case we are interested in its meaning as the adjective that refers to the first : that is, that which precedes others in an order.
Characteristics of raw material
A raw material is a material that is used to make a good . When it is extracted directly from nature , it is classified as a raw material .
The meat of an animal, the wood of a tree, fossils and minerals are examples of this kind of raw material. From these resources, multiple products or goods can be manufactured: a pork burger, a piece of furniture made of pine, a piece of jewelry made of gold, etc.
The state , for example, uses raw materials on a constant basis. Paving a road, to mention just one of the tasks carried out by the state administration, is done with asphalt or bitumen (a combination of the lead-coloured, viscous material called pitch with gravel or sand).
The primary sector is the one dedicated to the extraction of raw materials. Livestock , fishing and agriculture are part of this primary sector of the economy .
The secondary sector , for its part, is dedicated to using and transforming these raw materials. The tertiary sector , finally, distributes and consumes the products of the secondary sector, offering services.
Mining makes it possible to obtain a wide variety of raw materials, such as copper, silver, diamonds and gold.
Some examples
It is important to note that all production processes require raw materials . Therefore, before starting to produce a product, it is necessary to have the corresponding raw materials.
Let's suppose that a company in the food industry wants to produce a drink based on orange juice. The essential raw material for the product will be, precisely, the orange from which the juice is obtained. In addition, other ingredients, such as sugar and preservatives, will be incorporated into the production process.
Let us now consider the case of a company that makes clothes. The raw materials it uses include cotton and wool . Typically, the companies that make the final product are not directly responsible for obtaining the raw materials, but rather purchase them.
Paper is a raw material used in many industries.
The raw materials of a restaurant
Most businesses and commercial establishments require multiple raw materials for their daily operation. If we take the case of a restaurant , this type of business needs numerous raw materials to be able to offer its proposal to customers.
Oils, rice, spices, eggs, milk, legumes, corn, fish, salt, seeds, soy, noodles, wheat flour and vegetables, among many other ingredients, are essential for preparing recipes. Elements such as honey, cocoa, coffee, fruit, beer, wine and mineral water are also required to satisfy diners' requests.
Restaurants, in short, usually work with different suppliers to obtain everything they need. This allows them to have a more or less extensive menu.
The construction industry and the textile sector
In the construction industry , the most common raw materials include cement, sand, iron, steel and aluminium. If we take into account finishing details and decoration, we can add bronze, marble, glass, different types of plastics and paints.
In these cases, it is common for more than one company to be involved in each project: one firm may erect the structure, another may take care of the openings, etc. This is why the diversity of raw materials is very wide.
If we think about the textile sector , a company may require raw materials such as fabrics, hides, leather, rubber, pigments and synthetic fibers. It all depends on what type of garment it intends to make.
Raw material in philosophy
It is worth noting that the idea of prime matter also appears in the field of philosophy . For Aristotle , the essence of bodies is composed of a passive and potential principle called prime matter, united to the so-called substantial form .
It can be said that raw material is a passive power that does not exist in isolation. It must be combined with substantial form to realize its capacity to exist, being the starting point for the generation of things.
When raw material is united with substantial form, the matter begins to constitute itself as substance . In other words, the entity then acquires a certain mode of being.