The use of synthetic materials has its roots in the first half of the 19 th Century, when inventors began to enhance the natural properties of rubber using additives and by vulcanization. Later that century, cellulose based plastics came into widespread use in the film industry and for man-made fabrics.

However since the middle of the last century the development of plastic materials for use in industry has accelerated beyond what would have been unimaginable for those early pioneers. Thermoplastics and plastic composites now replace metals in use for the most arduous applications. They are lightweight, incredibly strong, and resistant to corrosion and chemical attack.

These pages provide a short history on plastics, and an overview of the materials that are used for plastic piping systems.