TPi March 2013

Plast ic and composi te innovat ions

While early users of plastics were most intrigued by the signature quality of mouldability, pipe makers saw in the “building blocks of hydrocarbons” a host of other properties: strength, light weight, portability; relative chemical inertness, durability,

insolubility in water; resistance to corrosion and extreme pressure and to environmental stressors; economy and ease of installation. a bright future lay ahead for plastic pipes, and it was not long in arriving. as much as ever today, the same qualities of plastic pipe commend it to customers in an ever-widening array of industries – some of which did not even exist when plastics first came on the scene. While some things never change, others are always changing. not only does plastic pipe fit into both categories: it bestrides them.

Photograph: Kingfisher Industrial Ltd (see page 52)