Document 3Z0Gr521BZ9REMpwomkg3Ken

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT GF-1583 MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT REPORT - OCTOBER 1969 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Industrial Products division SECP.FT - COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL I. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS (South Bound Erook) A. Felts and Papers Laboratory work has been comnleted on the formulation of an asbestosSBR binder gasketing paper which is comparable to the Armstrong sheet and meets potential customer specifications. A plant run will be scheduled. All leading competitive 15 lb. asphalt saturated asbestos felts were compared with the GAF product. Only slight differences were found be tween these felts with the Johns-r'anville sheet beino superior in cross machine tensile and tear strength. Laboratory work on improving these properties has shown that beater addition of Accostrength resin in small quantities will result in a significant improvement in both characteristics. A plant trial is now planned with the modified formulation. B. Asbestos Flooring Felt The Erie trial run using TCD carboxylated latex (400-76E yielded seven and a half tons of felt for evaluation at Whitehall. Physical prooerties of the sheet were equal or superior to the standard product. Attempts to obtain high stock temperatures at precipitation and in the machine vats with temporary equipment were successful but erratic at times. It is believed this fluctuation caused periodic "cylinder peels", which necessitated three shut-downs during the run. Based on this initial experience, however, R&D personnel believe that this formulation can be run continuously with water temperature control and more operating experience. The five test rolls are now being evalu ated in the Sheet Vinyl operation and depending on the results, a repeat run will be scheduled to overcome the operating problems. Tests at Whitehall using Erie felt made with Philip Carey asbestos showed the sheet was satisfactory in all respects except for sig nificantly lower tear strength. The previously run test felt was adequate in this respect. Whitehall has recommended that a more ex tensive trial run be nade with this alternate fiber furnish before it is adapted as standard. Arrangements to do this are now being made. C. Automotive Modifications of the moldable mastic formulation were studied in the laboratory to improve flexibility without adversely affecting shape re tention. The necessary materials have been ordered to make a pro duction run of the mastic sheet for post-forming development work. Various outside organizations are being contacted to determine whether they will vacuum form the desired automotive part shapes. D. Insulation Studies have been conducted on equipment to pulverize Calsilite scrap for reuse in the gel formulation. Tests made on the Pallmann Pulver izer Company unit indicate it can prepare the waste satisfactorily. Asbestos flooring felt trim was also treated in the pulverizer and this processed waste is being evaluated in the laboratory. B-D93H MICH08343