A Cambridge University team made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
Copper pipes are about as close as we can get to perfect, and as solderless press-fit connections get better, is just as easy to install as any of the plastic options
For water it’s probably introducing more microplatics to your water. For waste pipes the are louder and a fire hazard. You can’t use them on 3 story plus buildings.
You need specialized tools to bend the copper pipes used in plumbing, and if you don’t, you’re using the wrong kind of copper or got scammed.
They’re a bit more expensive than plastic options, sure, but they also have a 2-3 times longer life expectancy, and in good conditions, copper pipes can last over a century without issue.
They may be heavier than plastic pipes, sure, but I wouldn’t classify a copper pipe as “heavy”, you know what I mean? Like, a child can carry around a few 10 foot sticks of 1/2 inch type L copper no problem. They’re more durable though, so they can actually support their own weight in a lot of situations where plastic pipes need extra support.
A 10 meter long 40 cm diameter copper pipe is quite heavy. If you have to dig the asphalt to fix something it isn’t that difficult to bend or perforate.
Sure, you’ll break a plastic pipe as well in that situation, but that is quite an easier fix.
Regarding how long they last, to be fair I have no idea. I’d imagine a PVC pipe can easily last some 30 years, I don’t know whether a copper pipe will last much longer. It could be I guess. What I can say, when I had to deal with copper pipes I was just happier to replace them with plastic pipes; much easier to work with. Want to take a section of the piping off to check what’s wrong? Very easy with plastic pipes, will take you a couple minutes without any tool. If you want to do the same with copper pipes most likely you have to cut them and then solder them back or attach them with some kind of fitting.
I don’t know whether a copper pipe will last much longer
I do. My house is nearly 70 years old, and still has the original copper piping throughout. I replaced some recently because I had to move things around for a bathroom renovation, but all the old stuff I took out was still in perfectly fine condition. I expect the rest of the copper in the house to last another 70 years.
Want to take a section of the piping off to check what’s wrong? Very easy with plastic pipes, will take you a couple minutes without any tool.
What kind of plumbing are you doing that lets you use threaded joints on everything? Anything under pressure usually requires glued slip joints, and those certainly can’t be taken apart without tools, or without having to use a fitting to get it back together.
What about glass pipes? They’re fragile but far more eco friendly and cheaper than pvc/plastic. Stainless steel could hold up to, clay is the oldest form of piping that isn’t harmful,
Cast iron could also be used if there’s no air introduced within the water supply though while popular among some we can easily say its a dumb and expensive idea.
I like plastic pipes. They’re not strictly necessary, but I figure they’re better than lead and brass pipes.
Brass pipes? Are you thinking of copper?
Copper pipes are about as close as we can get to perfect, and as solderless press-fit connections get better, is just as easy to install as any of the plastic options
Expensive, bend easily, much more heavy. I just see advantages in plastic pipes and no disadvantages.
For water it’s probably introducing more microplatics to your water. For waste pipes the are louder and a fire hazard. You can’t use them on 3 story plus buildings.
You need specialized tools to bend the copper pipes used in plumbing, and if you don’t, you’re using the wrong kind of copper or got scammed.
They’re a bit more expensive than plastic options, sure, but they also have a 2-3 times longer life expectancy, and in good conditions, copper pipes can last over a century without issue.
They may be heavier than plastic pipes, sure, but I wouldn’t classify a copper pipe as “heavy”, you know what I mean? Like, a child can carry around a few 10 foot sticks of 1/2 inch type L copper no problem. They’re more durable though, so they can actually support their own weight in a lot of situations where plastic pipes need extra support.
A 10 meter long 40 cm diameter copper pipe is quite heavy. If you have to dig the asphalt to fix something it isn’t that difficult to bend or perforate. Sure, you’ll break a plastic pipe as well in that situation, but that is quite an easier fix.
Regarding how long they last, to be fair I have no idea. I’d imagine a PVC pipe can easily last some 30 years, I don’t know whether a copper pipe will last much longer. It could be I guess. What I can say, when I had to deal with copper pipes I was just happier to replace them with plastic pipes; much easier to work with. Want to take a section of the piping off to check what’s wrong? Very easy with plastic pipes, will take you a couple minutes without any tool. If you want to do the same with copper pipes most likely you have to cut them and then solder them back or attach them with some kind of fitting.
I do. My house is nearly 70 years old, and still has the original copper piping throughout. I replaced some recently because I had to move things around for a bathroom renovation, but all the old stuff I took out was still in perfectly fine condition. I expect the rest of the copper in the house to last another 70 years.
What kind of plumbing are you doing that lets you use threaded joints on everything? Anything under pressure usually requires glued slip joints, and those certainly can’t be taken apart without tools, or without having to use a fitting to get it back together.
Ok you’re talking a very different beast. Copper doesnt work at that scale.
I have copper for mains, but the irrigation is HDPE. Because one of these will face more interference and potential damage than the other.
What about glass pipes? They’re fragile but far more eco friendly and cheaper than pvc/plastic. Stainless steel could hold up to, clay is the oldest form of piping that isn’t harmful,
Cast iron could also be used if there’s no air introduced within the water supply though while popular among some we can easily say its a dumb and expensive idea.
Plastic pipes have great advantages over all those materials: they’re cheap, light and sturdy.
If properly disposed they don’t pollute much since they last many years and basically do not degrade.
I doubt making a city pipeline out of glass pipes would be viable.
Mm that’s totally fair. Just hope that the material can be better recycled/decomposed in some way :P
Glass takes a huge amount of energy to make.
It is? Ah damn :(