ASBESTOS

A number of different minerals containing varying

amounts of silicon, oxygen, calcium and magnesium
qualify as form asbestos but all have one feature in
common, a structure based on long-chain molecules
containing the repeating unit (Si 4O11) -6

 ASBESTOS AS A
HEALTH HAZARD
Lung cancer.
Asbestosis (a chronic
inflammation of the lungs).

OBSOLETE PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASBESTOS

1.
2.
3.

Raw asbestos fibres were used as insulation. Example: Packing for walls
and floors. Insulation of batteries.
Asbestos textiles were used in belting for conveying hot materials, friction
materials, and as electrical and thermal insulation.
Asbestos paper was used as electrical and thermal insulation and for fire
protection in military helmets, armored car roofs.

4.
5.

Asbestos-cement products contained up to 75% Portland cement. Here the

strong asbestos fibres were used to strengthen the product as well as to
improve thermal insulation properties.
Asbestos reinforced and filled plastics included both thermoplastic and
thermosetting types to which asbestos was added as loose fibre, woven
textile or paper.

PRECAUTIONS ON ENCOUNTERING
ASBESTOS
If dealing with the raw fibre and woven forms of it, protective clothing
should be worn, including a respirator, rubber gloves and gumboots.
Drilling and cutting of asbestos-cement and other composites should only
be undertaken if the surface can be kept wet and continual damping down
is possible to prevent the formation of air-borne dust.
Machining processes should only be permitted if adequate exhaust systems
are available to take off the dust-laden air.

CLAY PRODUCTS
The mineral kaolinite, from which high-quality porcelain is
manufactured. Pure kaolinite is an alumino-silicate of the
formula Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O, but natural clays vary widely in
composition.

 FIRECLAY
Fireclay used for furnace linings, firebricks and some crucibles is high in
kaolinite. Such bricks can be used at temperatures up to 1500C. Since raw
fireclay is relatively expensive, crushed used firebrick (known as 'grog') is
added to new clay, partly for reasons of economy but also to reduce shrinkage
of the product during firing.

 SHAPING CLAY PRODUCTS

(i) The plaster mould is filled with slip

(ii) a layer of clay particles collects on the mould surface as
water is absorbed by the mould
(iii) when the shell is thick enough, excess slip is poured
away
(iv) the resultant 'casting' is removed from the dry mould
before being further dried and fired'.

 HYDROPLASTIC FORMING
Hydroplastic forming of wet clay is employed in the
manufacture of simple shapes such as bricks. The clay,
softened with water, is extruded using a 'screw pump' of
similar design to that shown for the extrusion of plastics
materials. The extruded stock is 'parted off as individual
bricks.

 THE HEAT-TREATMENT OF CLAY PRODUCTS

1.

2.

Drying in which the work is loaded on to racks in large ovens and the
temperature then raised to about 120C in an atmosphere saturated with
water vapour. The humidity is then very gradually reduced so that water
evaporates slowly and evenly from the work.
Firing is usually carried out in long gas- or electrically-heated tunnel
kilns through which the work moves very slowly towards the hottest zone
(about 1500C), then into the cooling zone through which the work again
moves very slowly before being discharged.