Document 0gK0roGXn3pQ92nkNOXOQ1pEJ

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE METALS DIVISION cc: RLF JLM * RLS 270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK UK) 17 7? iNojn.i Lc:-"or, I DO' Number j, Vi. Rawlings Metals 38th Floor Ciiy to Mr. F. C. Kroft, Jr. Dole Originating Dept. February 12, 1976 Ffoor Number Answering letter dole Subject ASBESTOS SPU ACTION PLAN INTRODUCTION Union Carbide's asbestos business (product trademark Calidria) is based upon a vast, short fibert- crysotile deposit located in the Diablo Mountains of central California and a 34,000 ton per year mill located about 50 miles away in the Salinas Valley at King City. The Asbestos SPU will have sales of $4.5MM in 1975 and achieve a 4.3% R0S. The Calidria ore deposit is geologically extraordinary with the only known similar ore body being the Stragari deposit in Yugoslavia. Unlike the ore bodies in Eastern Canada, which are the major source of asbestos fiber for the U.S., the Calidria deposit contains no long fiber. This precludes its use in many of the classic commodity markets including friction materials, gaskets, and asbestos cement pipe and building products. However, the Calidria ore contains 50-60% fiber as compared to 5-10% from a typical Canadian deposit. Ore reserves on 197 unpatented lode and placer claims are so large that it has never been necessary to make an accurate assessment. However, we conservatively estimate that, even with an eight-fold mill capacity expansion, the reserves on only 48 of these claims would last for more than 100 years. Furthermore, Union Carbide has developed a novel wet milling process for beneficiating the ore which provides a very pure, highly-liberated fiber, with excellent recovery of fiber^from the ore. Thus, the essence of building a successful asbestos business has been the development of custom markets for this special type of fiber. Consonant with this marketing philosophy, we have built a small but highly profitable market for a specially treated fiber called RG-244 sold primarily as a viscosity agent for polyester and other resins and have recently introduced a new treated fiber called RG-600 which is an effective reinforcement agent for thermoplastics. It is the purpose of this communication to outline our action plan to use these specialty products as the vehicle for expanding the earnings and improving the earnings quality of the Asbestos SPU. /.. . UCC 012859 XV - J , ' i iftts February 1976 o/4 pec :oa .4^.-; -specia u.:y ~ c r .:.j :>jo lt - I -- .713 X" 1-4 ) . tO ^ $90 to 3500 ji-.sc '.00, .us taps joinc compound s :u: *i c y and roofing compounds. in: r ji,a'rKets i filler sr; 1 \s for lu .i' S '. .j>V. 5 .. j _ b* t.`. C L 1 \ J .t / .1 I.C cCC ) r-: i : > . r , .{. n L I i.1. < in b1-;.- f GUI , i-;ri iLi.JiL.Mti.'iii -j.s oil 'well drilling muds jjnscructiOn, caulks iiml sealants, paints, As the business has grown, r.hr: las stegy has been to achieve capacity operation arch the. ,..o>t raaocaV.-; product :aix possible, .o dace, this has required couLuittiog a ig.t.i: io-usc fraction of rapacity to lto; wer margin grades of product. ^-eigh r s i -.-*-> is Canadian fiber, limit our par t icipa Cion in t he : lom* tile in.! other dark era east of the Mississippi anc we have no c yet deveieped sut f icienc -ro lutne in higher mar:.,in fiber products to remove ourselves from the floor tile business. However, the thrust of marketing and technology has been to continue to upgrade che product mix. Since the mill was first put into operation in late 1963 sales have grown steadily reaching ?1 million in 1966, and a breakeven level of 32.4 million in 1971. CaDacity operation was achieved in 1373 and the plant remained sold out through mid-1974 when it 'was hit early and hard by the recent recession fostered mainly by the severe retrenchments in Japan and in the U.S. construction and automotive industries. The recessionary effects continued well into 1975 'until abetted by a strike at che plants of 5 asbestos producers in Quebec. This situation resulted in a return -to capacity operations for the second half of 1975 and slight improvement over 1974 performance. Resumption of the growth trend is jx .ectad in 1976. As s u-vina cited below, the Asbestos $?U enjoyed a 11.12 ?.CA and 9.12 ROS in 1973 and eioeriemaed earnings id ivap_ qu.ALit''' in 1974 prior :o che onset of che a 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 C-J r1 "' p Sa.l^s ( jMl .*37 A 1130 >302 3791 Hat Income : 3M) ?.os (%> .10A ' ~f' '4 \ h- V 2 An 346 37 132 -- . 1 9.1 ^ 7 3.0 -- a.c ,1 UCC 012860 .i . 'A. Rawlings -3- February 12, 1976 :j Xcsp;:- ;b.- long taud mg sales strategy of upgrading the quality of the ,:-l -c--. , ,;.-iLun ..n :^veloped in 1966-67 a special high purity f Lb or on w.-.icu &' silica coating was generated by chemical :re;RA-.uc. "his iltca-co.j t Lb a.-, called RG-244, is an excellent viscosity *$.':. it :.ae .layup of polyester resins, in vinyl plastisol sealants, and 1;, .epoxies whefv. it competes not against other asbestos fibers but rather against f-iried silica {c.g. Cab-0-Sil sold by Cabot Corp. and Aerosil sold by Oegussa). Typically 0.5 to 2% RG-244 imparts the desired properties to the jnJ product. The new product was introduced to the market in early 1968- Sales war;; oil in the ensuing two years of market development, Put then grew to a ei :,i 220 tons in 1970 and 997 tons by 1974. In that year, product was iolc c-j about ISO customers in quantities ranging from a few hundred pounus to >0 tons. This sales level was essentially the capacity of the special circuit it th.-. Xing City mill in which RG-244 is produced. On November 12, 1971, the at Committee approved a Capital Budget Proposal submitted by the liini.rg 4 H-c-tls Division to double the capacity of the RG-244 circuit to 21C0 tons per year. This project was completed on April 1,. 1975 and although sales for 1975 were less than 1974, we expect a resumption of the growth trend in 1976 and achievement of capacity operation from the expanded RG-244 circuit by 1980. In 1974, while accounting on a tonnage basis for only -?. of the volume, RG-2L4 contributed 34% of the sales revenues and 59% of the direct margin dollars. Similar values in 1975 for RG-244 are 2.3% of tonnage, 25% of sales revenues and 44% of direct margin dollars. RG-244 is covered by U.S. Patent 3,471,438 which expires in 1986- No other asbestos producer markets a comparable product. The major tempering consideration in the RG-244 sales projections is the impact of federal, state and city regulations on the handling and use of asbestos as well as the emotional re so or. of terrain customers to the unfavorable publicity on the asbestos, health issue. have found through extensive air sampling at customer's plants that the ai > me concentrations of RG-244 fibers should permit its use in compli-tm the OSHA regulations. As a frame of reference current OSHA r -irvi.it-ns r-.u/ire that after July 1, 1976 the ceiling airborne asbestos iu-:r --.r r>e Less men 10 fiber per cc and the time-weighted aver a s e v-c cl let- 2 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc). In October Ll'5. OSHA. p re pox--: orange in the regulations to levels of 5 f/cc ceiling and 2-5 f/cc time--weighted average at an unspecified future date. The cat- ir\ `mbi? I show b-- tistomers should have no major problems in neecin.-r :.bi-- r-oniruv-.r, our customers have been deterred by the asbest : .o:.> .cher portions of the OSHA regulations such is reqc Lr-i-' u.:tor penY-d .i--J irai .examinations and periodic atmospheric tonitor i.ng. Tisp.^J ling ti.ese concur':--: is a major facet cf the selling activity. UCC..Q 12861 __ Mr. J. W. Rawlings -4- ' February 12, 1976 Historical and projected 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 - 56 - 220 - 435 - 644 - 926 - 997 i c d r> L tt ~ / L .S n tons are .erred below: 1 3 / 'J _-7 -*f ^0 7l<r 3/2 *Jt f LuOO .578 - LjCO 1379 1500 1930 - 2000 .vCC. 2t:.-.g;;C Current LXP >t n .. - ,i / 1 2 .%> Sifc /r~ *' To achieve these sales levels, a general increase in che intensity of the RG-244 sales activity will be required coupled with a continuing effort to put the health hazard spectre in perspective for our customers. Since much of our other business in 1976 will be provided through sales contracts and since the main portion of the plant is projected to be sold out, the attention of the asbestos sales group can be oriented note toward RG-244 sales. Other special solutions to the asbestos/health issue such as developing a wetted product or setting up a network of regional or local master batchers should be explored in 1976 if money and manpower permit. TABLE I SUMMARY 0? RG-244 ASBESTOS FIBER COUNTS COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS Operation Primary Resin Manufacturing (80-450 lb. dumps) Resin Compounding (1-30 lb. dumps) Spraying of I.icuid Resin (D.5-1.53 R Sanding and ,:. :.uding (0.0 5-2% v.;; Number of Companies Tested Airborna Asbestos Concentrations (Fibers/ cc > 5u) .iaasured Beilin* Level Range uvaraga Estimated (1) TWA Level Range Average 0.6-5.3 1.5 0.11-0.46 0.17 21 0.1-2.0 1.0 0.10-0.46 0.18 5* '.1-0.5 0.2 0.10-0.40 0.21 '2 15 j, L 0.10-0.27 0.15 0.1 fiber-'re - iu i/c/wr specific itti 'tc tv.-.-.' ^ j ix . ill '.'''A caicnT.a.t inn except where UCC 012862 Mr. J. W. Rawlings -5- February 12, 1976 THE RG-600 STORY "Calidria" asbestos RG-600 is a high-purity, highly liberated chrysotile fiber pretreated with a proprietary coupling agent. It gives unique combinations of properties to thermoplastics - specifically polyolefins, styrenics, and vinyls. It also has potential applications in aliphatic polyesters, poly amides, and acetals. RG-600 provides significantly greater increase in stiffness and strength than conventional asbestos. In many cases, RG-600 gives properties comparable to those obtained from additions of chopped fiberglass. For example, highdensity polyethylene containing RG-600 can be formulated so that overall properties are comparable to high-impact polystyrene. RG-600 also gives higher heat-distortion temperatures than conventional asbestos. In polypropylene, for example, 30% RG-600 increases the heatdistortion temperature from 58 to 123 deg. C. This product is the outgrowth of several years of R/D work carried out at Bound Brook tinder the leadership of F. Ancker. The work was funded initially by Chemicals & Plastics and more recently by the Metals Division. All claims in our patent application relating to this development have been allowed and ,, the patent should issue shortly. As noted above, RG-600 is being promoted as a cost effective replacement for fiberglass in thermoplastics. This fiberglass market is currently (1974) estimated at 15,000 tons and should grow at a rate of 10% per year resulting in a 1980 requirement of about 26,000 tons. Unlike-RG-244 where each customer uses only a few tons annually, potential RG-600 customers would require tens to hundreds of tons annually. To provide additional perspective on this market, we would need to replace only slightly more than 10% of the fiberglass market in 1980 to achieve the objectives built into the 1976-80 Long Range Plan. Test marketing of RG-600 was introduced at the May 1974 SPE meeting in San Francisco. A high level of inifeial interest was generated by a technical paper presented by C & P, a press conference and mention in several trade journals. During the period May to December 1974, approximately 700 inquiries were received. In spite of the initial market interest created by the introduction of RG-600, markets have not yet developed. This is not inconsistent with our experience in developing markets for RG-244. As noted earlier, there was a 2 to 2-1/2 year gestation period between product introduction and development of an interesting level of sales. Applying this experience factor to RG-600 with an extension to overcome the health hazard stigma existing with many potential customers, it is unlikely that significant RG-600 sales would be expected before mid-1977. Thus, July 1, 1977 has been selected as a reasonable check point to UCC 012863 Hr. J. W. Rawlings -6- February 12, 1976 examine the market development situation and present to the management a detailed status report on RG-600. Based upon current forecasts, we should have achieved cumulative sales of 1100 tons by that date and this has been adopted as the performance standard against which progress will be measured. Sales experience and projections are as follows; 1974 - 3 tons 1975 - 5 tons 1976 - 600 tons 1977 - 1000 tons 1978 - 2000 tons 1979 - 2500 tons 1980 - 3000 tons (Actual) (Est. Actual) (Budget) (Current LRP 76-80) ft II 11 ft If 11 II fl II These Long Range Plan targets will serve as additional check points in the 1978-80 period against which continued market penetration will be measured. A detailed action plan and schedule covering the RG-600 market development program through the end of 1976 is appended to this memorandum but certain items are highlighted here. Particularly noteworthy are the following points; 1. In the first quarter of 1976, we will have most of Calidria sales people in residence at Bound Brook for training in plastics fabrication technology. 2. Also in the first quarter, we will compound a quantity of RG-600 with high density polyethylene in order to have available for fabricators material which is compounded with the best available procedures. This will eliminate the need for fabri ators to have material custom compounded under non--optimum conditions and should overcome initial concerns about asbestos toxicity. 3. The intensity of the selling activity will be increased in 1976 and Bound Brook efforts will be redirected from an R/D to a Technical Service mode. 4. We will attempt to augment our selling activity by using a portion of the Chemicals & Plastics sales team. As is the case with RG-244, air sampling data suggest that once RG-600 has been compounded , it can be used even in compliance with the proposed stringent level of 0.5 f/cc TWA. However, some care will be required during compounding to achieve the 0.5 f/cc level. Since dust counting data on RG-600 are.limited, one of the facets of the action plan is to obtain more data in field situations Currently available information is summarized in Table II attached. The coupling agent technology developed specifically to create a superior asbestos reinforcement for thermoplastics may also provide a vehicle for pentrating other markets. ,-- , it appears that, with some modifi- UCC 012864 Mr. J. W. Rawlings -7- February 12, 1976 cations, the phenolic coupling agent can oe -aspjied to c.\ :>v-- ui/s ;./> used in drilling muds in order to prococo a chicken -ng -isu.il "ui ... _ 1 ... muds. Here the problem is to convert cne normallv h/dtwviiy 11 ic -cer seeking surface of asbestos to a hydropuohie or cieophy li i:_ a act i,:c. Laboratory test work has demonstrated that chi> tecnnlcaL abj-sctive .an be achieved. It appears that with limited incremental invesr.^aiit a t leui test can be conducted in 1976 and the steps required to .tenLave t.iis aojeeciv* are included in the detailed RG-6G0 action plan. Ve will rely in large measure on support from Montello, our world-wide dLacribucor cor .it riling mud grades of asbestos, to verify the laboratory properties of the a^csd asbestos and to conduct the field test. RG-600 is currently produced at Niagara Falla In a pilot plant having an annual capacity of 750 tons based upon a two shite per day lay work week. Engineering has determined that the main circuit it King city can be modified to include RG-600 production at a cose of >400 M o .upon project authorizations on 1/76 and start-up on 1/77. The design ptonne cion rate would be about 605! that of our High Purity grade (i.e. 1.9 tons/hour). However, money for this project is not included in the 1976 Versing budget. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE The historical and projected financial performance of the Asbestos SPG based upon the 1976 Budget and 1976-80 Long Hangs Plan is displayed below and compared to the same business assuming no sales of .30-600 {i.e. worst case situation where the projected markets do not materialise): 1975 Budget 1976 L ong Ran ga Plan 1977 1973 1979 19SQ Sales Net Income ROS (%) ROA (%) ($M) ($M) 4342 132 3.0 2.9 5563 302 5.4 5.7 5677 i07 12. 1 24.1 37 24 1576 18. L 28.3 3650 1362 15.7 14.3 10217 1953 19-2 19.7 Same Basis 3uc No RG-610 Sales Net Income ROS (%) ROA (%) ($M) ($M) 4342 132 3.0 2.9 5563 302 5.4 5.7 39 7 5 544 o ,x 9.3 7242 1043 14.4 17. 2 6701 669 10.0 11.5 7'7 i J.096 14.1 It is apparent that even without develcpwect : a major .t-ir/.et cr the asbestos business is still a quality vconos.ir.ion with 20a \* caugtng from 9 to 19% and ROS's ranging from 9 to L'1% (assi.'.'".'' ->-v goals are met). Probably the most important :'?ct r n:.n these sales goals will be our ability to deal with the : .-:f eto - V. -c both emotionally and from the standpoint cf teg-ilaterv Li -e WCT:j1 Atts. UCC 012865 'i.ij ;; ^ m. :v \\f kiu: :?* y TABLE II s SUMMARY OF RG-600 ASDESTOS FI PER COUNTS - / TESTING LOCATIONS Operation Handlinq RG-600 Resin Dry Blend Compounded Resin Operations Cutting, Choppinq & Grinding Operations No, of Samples * 7 Personal 8 Area in or close to equipment 1 Personal 4 Area 4 Personal 11 Area Airborne Asbestos Concentrations (Fibers/cc >5u)_______ Ranqe Average <0.1-0. <0.1-2.2 0.3 1.2 <0.1-0.1 <0.1-0.1 0.2-0.4 <0.1-0.3 <0.1 <0.1 0.3 0.1 0) One sample at- 4.5 fibers/cc found at leaky Banbury. UCC 012866 (1) Eap/Da s p l i t p ro je cte d <? 1976 budget r a tio . 5 yh *.. ............ UCC 012868 4-* C`- cer T7- f C.-- c L* d -----` til c_: v> : Oui C -:' OCC Q- cX--: Q U4 l 03 IO ' u *s hf*c <?> W at ~*r*4 C? Sr i/} u* *cv3r*- e<x RG-600 ACTION PLAN I. THERMOPLASTIC REINFORCEMENT A. Demonstrate that ecology grade DM^dispersion can produce^equivalent properties to DMBP syrup when used as coupling agent -for asbestos reinforced thermoplastics ' 1. Evaluate effects on state of DMBP advancement on end product properties- (a) Produce DMBP dispersion in various states of advance- ment; min quantity 30 gal. each higher & lower advancement. Responsibility: M. Leung/BB Pilot Plant Schedule: October, 1975. (b) Produce RG-600 at Niagara Falls pilot plant using (1) above. Responsibility: R. E. Byrne/J. E. Skvarla try Schedule: November 1, 1975 completion. /r'4- (c) Evaluate asbestos-reinforced composites using materia^ produced in (2) above. Responsibility: M. Leung Schedule: January 1, 1976 completion. 2. Produce RG-600 in Niagara Falls Pilot Plant as required to meet 1976 sales. responsibility: Schedule: J. E. Skvarla Continuing ;y> U: ' f'*- fA - i jr-' UCC 012869 -2- R. Obtain price quotes and commitment from Bound Brook pilot plant to produce DMBF dispersion for near term (i.e. 1976) requirements.. Responsibility: M. Leung f K' Schedule; October 15, 1975. C. Obtain tentative commitment and planning purpose pricing from C & P operations to meet longer term (i.e. beyond 1976) commitments.' Responsibility; F. Ancker Schedule: July 1, 1976 h' N* ,, D. Resolve molding problems with RG-600 reinforced polyethylene structural / / foam. Responsibility: M. Sauers CsUv~f 4,!.*'" $ S' .. o > E. Schedule: 4th Quarter 1975 Establish whether or not C & P is interested in producing and marketing HDPE compounded with RG-600 to structural foam licensees or other natural markets. Responsibility: W. C. Thurber/R. E. Byrne ------ Schedule: 4th Quarter 1975 F. Complete engineering studies, cost and schedule for integrating DMBP treatment facilities into King City Plant. Responsibility: D. Furlani/O. J. Malacame Schedule: 3rd Quarter 1975 NOTE: Work has been completed and reported in Design Memo No. 1, File 1175 "RG 600 Blending Facility" dated August 28, 1975. This facility is estimated to cost $400 M based upon project authorization 1-76, equipment delivery 10-76, and start-up 2-77. Money for this program has not been included in the 1976 Working Budget. UCC 012870 - 3- G. Develop and implement vigorous marketing program for RG-600. Sales goals are summarized in Table A. 1- 'i \'_ ; Domestic marketing. (a) Initial Customer visits i) Major polyolefin producers. Responsibility: Schedule: R. E. Byrne . May 1, 1976 completion, / ` J/3'fk ii) Compounders Responsibility: R. E. Byrne Schedule: July 1, 1976 completion. ^tr iii) End Users Responsibility: R. E. Byrne Schedule: September 1, 1976 completion. cf ft* 2. Advertising & Sales Promotion j *c iV* (Ail (a) ' 'V ^ S' / * _____ /t /u \ Trade journal advertisements fA/'i |K fl-fp Responsibility: J. Crane iV' Schedule: April-May 1976 '* ^ / "r v f / )* z'a a' /if e (yf/ (b) / j "jt l \\ / ^ \ / \\ A/(.' o^/^k \ o Direct mail follow-up to advertising Responsibility: Schedule: J. Crane June-July 1976 Vs- ^\v j \ v' / ` *- ^ 7/ Y i, 'i i \ V t t (c) Prepare technical paper on RG-600 processing . .AAA' characteristics and property benefits Responsibility: F. Ancker r-i 17 A ,, I m Jo I & ' `S' -k Schedule: r fZ KL4^/y^r ' 3. Sales Training July 1, 1976 A (a) Work with Eoundbrook to provide in residence training I i.-, re plastics for one or more Calidria sales people. UCC 012871 Vi n - 4- Responsibility: Schedule: R. E. Byme/F. Ancker 1st Quarter 1976 completion 4. Export Sales (a) Japan i) Supply Tomoe with advertising/sales promotion information. Si'. tf-i Responsibility: R.E.Byrne/J. L. Myers ? Schedule: June 1, 1976 , ii) Visit Japan for sales training & customer calls. Responsibility: R. E.Byrne/J. L. Myers Schedule: July 1, 1976 (b) Europe i) Obtain decision from U.C. Europe as to whether they will handle RG-600 marketing. ___ Responsibility: Schedule: W. C. Thurber 4th Quarter 197&~ ii) Develop alternate sales agent if required Responsibility: R. E. Byme/tf, C. Thurber Schedule: As Required, iii) Provide sales training for European sales agent. Responsibility: R. E. Byrne Schedule: 1st Quarter 1976 UCC 012872 -5- H. Implement Bound Brook technical support program to complement v_sso*4ting activities. 1. Develop processing information in various resins A - particularly polyolefins. 5-]7 Responsibility: P. Ancker Schedule: 1st Quarter 1976 ' 2. Develop cost comparison and cost benefit data vis-a-vis S) fiberglass and other fillers. Responsibility: P. Ancker Schedule: 1st Quarter 1976 3. Provide technical service manpower to support sales calls. Responsibility: i F. Ancker & iUS Schedule: Continuing jjf ... J .V y 4. Extend coupling technology to polar polymers (eg. nylon) ^ Xt a ,i\ as. time permits. Responsibility: F. Ancker /V/ Schedule: 1976-1977 Wi >A ,yt 5- ?rep are 2000-5000 pounds of HDPE compounded with RG-600 ' V ^J u for customer trials. st'' r I ->r . /<., Responsibility: Schedule: F, Ancker 1st Quarter 1976 I. Develop additional field data on airborne asbestos fiber dust counts VJ during processing of RG-600 and prepare revised literature on subject for UCC 012873 presentation to customers. Responsibility: Schedule: - 6- H. 3. Rhodes 1st Quarter 1976 II. DETERMINATION OF PERFORMANCE OF CK-2103 TREATED ASBESTOS AS AN OIL BASE DRILLING FLUID ADDITIVE. A. Determine the merits of the product in.complete mud formulations on a laboratory scale. 1. Assemble and present the Information needed to motivate Montello to undertake laboratory evaluation. (a) Establish projected pricing for commerical quantities. Responsibility: W. C. Thurber Schedule: November 1975 (b) Establish projected costs for 10 ton batch for field trial. Responsibility: J. E. Skvarla Schedule: November 1975 (c) Prepare technical information package. Responsibility: H. B. Rhodes Schedule: November 1975 Cd) Technical and business presentation to Montello. Responsibility: H. B. Rhodes Schedule: By December 15, 1975 (e) Coordination and encouragement of Montello efforts. Responsibility: H. B. Rhodes Schedule: Continuing c }s y - UCC 012874 1 I ! x i - 7- .2 Preparation of 25 lb. laboratory batch for customer testing. (a) Preparation of CK-2103 butyl-cellosolve syrup. Responsibility: M. Leung Schedule: December 30, 1975 (b) Preparation of 25 16. of treated product. Responsibility: B. L. Ingalls Schedule: January 1976 3. Laboratory verification of properties of sample batch. (a) Test room temperature rheology properties. * Responsibility: B. L. Ingalls Schedule: January-February 1976 (b) Test high temperature thermal stability. Responsibility: M. Leung Schedule: January-February 1976 B. Determine whether a higher performance CaC^brine-leached product should be offered. ____ 1. Define possible manufacturing conditions and then effect on product properties. (a) Measure effect of brine concentration, time, temperature, shear and working and filtration procedures on product properties at room temperature. Responsibility: B. L. Ingalis/H. B. Rhodes Schedule: 1st Quarter 1976 .../. UCC 012875 -8- (b) Check thermal stability on selected products. Responsibility: M. Leung Schedule: 1st Quarter 1976 2. Preparation of preliminary cost estimates. (a) Flow sheet and estimate of incremental cost to add leach step to process. Responsibility: Engineering Schedule: 2nd Quarter 1976 3. Decision for Action. Responsibility: Schedule: W. C. Thurber June 1976 C. Obtain an on-site well test of treated product. 1. Manufacture 10 tons of product. (a) Preparation of syrup. Responsibility: M. Leung Schedule: 3rd Quarter 1976 (b) Preparation of product. Responsibility: J. E. Skvarla Schedule: 3rd Quarter 1976 2. Coordination and observation of the test to be set-up by Montello. Responsibility: H. B. Rhodes Schedule: 4th Quarter 1976 3. Measure dust exposure during test. Responsibility: R. B. Rhodes Schedule: 4th Quarter 1976 UCC 012876