Document DG7DzVJpywnYgvMnELdk12EkQ

April 22, 1976 H 2_ TO: T. E. Nevins FROM: E. Maynard SUBJECT: WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS ' 'JOINT SYSTEMS B. M. Hostrup - #170-5 C. M. Howard - #147-2 CCPD . 1. Field tests of the non-asbestos READY MIX TOPPING made at East Chicago have been postponed until next week. The tests will be in the Chicago area and W. C. Anderson will follow them. e 2. An interrogatory was sent to Mr. Duffy from the Attorney General's office for the State of Minnesota concerning USG's compliance with the state law on asbestos in joint compounds sold or used there. Joint compounds are shipped to Minnesota from the East Chicago plant. All powder joint compounds are non-asbestos (USG TOPPING released in 1972 , USG TAPING, in 1973 and USG ALL PURPOSE in early - - 1974). READY MIX ALL PURPOSE and TOPPING still contain asbestos however. An acceptable non-asbestos READY MIX was developed in 1973, but raw material cost was high. Marketing requested that development continue until a non-asbestos formula could be released without cost increase. New Brighton was bulletined in May 1975 at no cost increase, but to make this formula at East Chicago (MIDWAY) . . would increase their cost. In May, 1975, East Chicago (and Gypsum) were bulletined for both non-asbestos READY MIX ALL PURPOSE and TOPPING. Though the cost was still, somewhat higher than their asbestos READY MIX, Research could see no way of reducing raw material cost further without an acceptable terra alba filler at Each*Chicago. Dept. #147-2 requested these non-asbestos formulas to be bulletined in May, 1975-for use by CCPD in emergency or where non-asbestos products are specified. They were field tested, but none sold_ -------------as far-as we knowr" Operating Dept, is" still-attempting'to get terra alba for East Chicago. _ 3. East Chicago made further modifications this week on the Raymond air separator and improved the filler quality to 89-92% through a-325 mesh and 100% through 60 mesh. A sample will come to Research for confirmation. i onci T T'MT'rir'n Qtattc flvncTix^ rA\,fnAMv