Document LgprjbD1kXeRN8veZ622KZqM5

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT -I ( COBRA High Friction Composition Brake Shoes _________ `Environmental Safety This is in response to your request for information concerning possible . environmental hazards that could result from the use of COBRA Composi tion Brake Shoes. Investigations ve have conducted offer reasonable assurance that COBRA brake shoes do not pose an environmental hazard to aither personnel handling them or personnel in close proximity to the point where they are utilized during braking operations. Specific actions that we have taken to insure the environmental safety of COBRA broke shoes are as follows: . . 1. A car tain amount of asbestos fiber is included in the composition material and backing stock of each COBRA brake shoe. During, the manufacturing process, the asbestos and other materials are siolded into a hard block of friction material which is bonded to a steel backing plate. At this point, the asbestos is effectively contained within the friction material. As a further protection, the entire brake shoe is dipped in a sealant which will prevent any loose asbestos particles becoming airborne during handling of the brake shoes. The sealant also restricts rusting of the backing plate dur ing outside storage and provides the distinctive "rad" shoe color. 2. We have been questioned by various gtoups and individuals concerning the amount of asbestos fiber released by COBRA brake shoes during braking action. To be able to answer these questions, we ran as>. elaborate series of dynamometer tests in 1971 during which all the wear dust from various types of braking cycles was collected and analyzed. The results of these tests show that almost all of the asbestos fiber is decomposed during brake applications. Less than one percent of the original asbestos fiber in the shoe remains as fiber in the wear dust and less than one tenth of that becomes airborne. Since each stop WUriNCXOUSf AlA IAaKI company J>sihu* m J*i>--f J0HN1.MANVJLU COAPO* wears only a very mall amount of material from each shoe, and since each shoe contains only a very small percentage of asbestos fiber, it can be seen that the amount of asbestos fiber chat becomes air* borne with each stop is not significant. 3. During the same period of investigation covered in 2 above, possible toxicity of gases liberated by COBRAS brake shoes during braking was also given attention. Stop and drag tests were performed and samples of gases given off during braking were collected by a technician from an independent testing laboratory. The samples were subsequently analyzed and the results reported. Results showed chat che COBRA brake shoes gave off no extremely toxic materials, and only small amounts of hydrocarbon gases. It was concluded that no amounts of harmful gases sufficient to be injurious to health were liberated. . . 4. The original COBRA brake shoe composition also contained lead. All shoes manufactured since November'1975 have utilised a lead-free com position. The primary reason for this change was to eliminate lead from our plant environment for the protection of. manufacturing employees exposed to the raw material. . 5. In early 1977, WABCO, in cooperation with Johns-Hanvi lie research per sonnel 1, conducted a series of air sample tests in the Boston Subway in an offort to capture chrysotile fiber during train operations. Samples were taken between the cars near the track level, in the passenger and mocorman's area, and on the platforms over a 10 hour period of highest density operation. No significant fiber counts were seen on any of the filters. ' 6. In 1978-79, we developed and have in locomotive and mass transit ser vice a COBRA Composition Brake Shoe which contains neither asbestos or lead in the friction material. We crust the above information will provide answers to questions that may arise as to the environmental characteristics of COBRA, brake shoes. Please let us know if any additional information is required. Sincerely yours. EVK/J Mansger-COBRA Shoe Sales