polybutylene
Flexible pipe material
Polybutylene is a type of plastic resin used primarily for water supply piping in residential construction from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s.
The material proved prone to deterioration and leaking when exposed to chlorine and other oxidants in municipal water supplies, leading to widespread failures and class-action lawsuits.
Polybutylene pipes, typically gray or blue, are no longer installed but remain in many older homes.
Lack of success
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- class-actionLawsuit representing many plaintiffs
- repipingReplacing a building's pipes
- leakEscape through a breach
oxidation · chlorine · degradation · brittle · cracking · replacement · corrosion · fittings
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- resinViscous plant secretion
- elastomerStretchable polymer substance
- petrochemicalProduct from crude processing
- extrusionPushing through a die
plastic · recyclable · durability · insulation · polymerization · butene · monomer · crystalline
failure
Lack of success
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- class-actionLawsuit representing many plaintiffs
- repipingReplacing a building's pipes
leak · oxidation · chlorine · degradation · brittle · cracking · replacement · corrosion · fittings · acetal
thermoplastic
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- resinViscous plant secretion
- elastomerStretchable polymer substance
- petrochemicalProduct from crude processing
extrusion · plastic · recyclable · durability · insulation · polymerization · butene · monomer · crystalline
bendable
Able to curve
resilient · elastic · supple · stretchable · flexible · yielding · soft · expansion · contraction
polybutylenecopper piping
Metal tubes for plumbing
copper · cast iron · galvanized steel · brass · lead pipe
poly, polyester, polygon, polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyglot, polynomial