`Historical water conveyance material evolution`

Survey of water pipe material substitutions from 4000 BC clay pipes through Roman aqueducts, wood, cast iron / ductile iron, and into polymer transitions. Used to set up the embrittlement issue with century-old cast iron mains.

Material substitution also happens over time. One of the best examples is the conveying of water. If you look at the top left figure, clay pipes in 4000 BC. Why did they make them out of clay? Because that's what was available. You didn't have steel mills, you didn't have factories. So some of it is the product of the era you're in.