Document B8JEL3MG3m9bpdz4e4RVzLBgE

. f -Jyi? chemical department Abex Corporation RESEARCH CENTER MAHWAM, NEW JERSEY September 25, 1969 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT AB-17 To: Mr. C. H. Borcherding, Jr. Medical Department - Chicago Subject; Comet 50 Composition Shoe Processing Confirming our recent telephone discussion about the fiber!zing of the asbestos at the Railroad Avenue plant, only a bare minimum of attrition is required to permit accurate weighing of the standard charge. Hood ventilation as used in the present weigh area should be adequate provided the operation is done in a vented area. As far as the ventilation at the mixers is concerned, the present prac tice in the plant has become somewhat relaxed. The more recent formula releases indicating the approved processing steps have followed actual operation rather than the more laborious, but safer, steps originally proposed by Research. Specifically, this refers to the use of a cover on the mixer during any blending step. There, is no reason why vented pressure lids similar to Brakeblok's cannot be used for the railroad shoe production. Since, it is generally easier to acquire the asbestos in pressure packed bags rather than loose fibers, the former is preferable and no blending problem would be expected in the kneader mixer. AMl/Jr cc; R. H. Arneson J. 7* Pollard C. C. KLackwell Jr, MD AMG/File D-380 Arvon M. Griffith SEP 2 9 !9R9 ABEX CORPORATION MEDICAL DEPT. SPNY 005399