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Plastic pipes
Plastics for heavy-duty pipe applications went from unthinkable to
indispensable so quickly that it can be challenging to try to recall the
many voids that were filled by the introduction of plastic pipes.
And the contributions of these lighter-weight, non-toxic, recyclable
stalwarts continue into our own, intensely ecology-minded era.
Possibly there are other products for rugged industrial and residential
uses that, like plastic pipes, can last in as-new condition for a quarter-
century: in concrete or underground; without scaling, rust, pitting, or
other corrosion; leakproof and equally accommodating of hot (CPVC)
or cold (PVC) throughput. It is just very difficult to think of any.