Plastics Piping for Higher Temperature Use

More than 40 years ago synthetic resins in combination with inert fillers were being used as construction materials, especially in the electrical industries, where their high insulation properties were of considerable value. These early developments were mainly involved with laminations from resin impregnated paper and fabrics requiring relatively high pressures for the polymerisation which tended to limit the work to rods, tubes and plates. 

A noteable feature of these early materials, however, was their resistance to atmospheric corrosion and the low water absorption values which they possessed. These phenomena were particularly apparent in the Phenol Formaldehy de resins where a remarkable resistance to hot concentrated Hydrochloric Acid was established during routine evaluation tests. The possibilities for uti lising the high acid resisting properties of these resins as a basis for a chemical plant constructional material were quickly realised, and development work was put in hand.