Introduction to Plastics Pipeline Materials

This paper has been written to support the Workshop presentation. It is intended to be a useful reference and introduction to plastics pipeline systems for the engineer, specifier or end-user of plastics pipeline systems. The basic characteristics and types of plastics have been reviewed. The reasons why plastics pipelines system have become such a success and the advantages they offer have been listed. A review of the different materials used for pipelines has been carried out with a short summary of the characteristics of eachmaterial. Finally material classification, selection and standards have been discussed. Tables have been included listing the applications for each material with a summary of jointing systems, operating temperatures, and typical diameter ranges available for each material.