Document MGeOeMBnrBzqgXqq1y91Q68Xz

I I IIIi k J5 & May 23, 1969 Hr. . A. dchuraaii Johns-Manyille 22 Last 4Cth Street New York, New York lwcl6 cc: U. J*. Clark - Uniroyal, Inc. . L. E. Moody - il. K. Porter Co.' J. L. Kainey - American Asbestos Textile Co. C. P. Weiss - Garlock, Inc. H. C. Roosevelt - Cadwalader, Vickersham \j Taft H. E. Sunbury - Asbestos Textile Institute % V ' , Dear Ed: 1 am attaching to this letter and to copies addressed to cadi menber of the Board of Governors of the A.T.l. a copy of a letter sent to K/rl by Mr. J. W. Murdoch, Head, Applied Physics Deportment from the Department of the Navy*, Philadelphia. It would seem that everyone has seen it by now but since it seems so important to all of us, 1 send it as a precautionary* measure. We certainly will place this subject on the agenda of the dales. Promotion Committee for the June 19th meeting at deaview. At the sane time, may 1 respectfully request that you make the letter available to the Ihviromental Study* Cocxaittec who would also be most vitally concerned. We believe that some form of action should be taken by the Institute in the fora of a protest at the earliest opportunity. Cliff Shccklcr's group could certainly advise us in this area. At the same time, Kaybestos-Manhattan intends to reply independubly at their invitation as outlined in paragraph 11. We feel it expedient to submit a letter prior to June 15th in order to contribute to discourag ing a development program on substitutes for asbestos in shipboard insulation. Yours very truly. DCPAftTMHNT OF THC NA naval r.inr i.fK.im t mu'. c i nn it run am i i hia uiviwion 1'MILAULUt`MIA, I 'A. Wt\\Z tj4 airit 9y/)(TA-:uy/) Cor 750 ~/h& 5 MAY 10 S3 rViybcotoo-J-'-smhattan Incorporated 61 Willett Street raocaic, New Jereoy 07055 Gentlemen: Ebi Propocod Insulating J.'ntcriala for Naval Veecelo The oerious hazards of asbcctos have recently received widespread publicity and have Generated Q hish level of intercs* concerning its use by the U. S. Navy as an insulating material, Tr.ere ^re many varied urea of asbestos in the Navy but the most disturbing, from a health hazard viewpoint, is that for piping and boiler insulation and lagging. The chief hazard exists wherever there is a possibility of dust evolution during operations ouch a3 fabrication, installation and especially during rip-out. In order to minimize the hazards associated with the use of asbestos and therefore reduce the possibility of deleterious effects to the writers, a comprehensive study has been initiated by the Naval Ship Engineering Center, Hyattsvillc, lid,, to investigate the feasibility of substituting alternate materials for asbestos used as lagging, piping and boiler insula tion, High temperature insulation, as used by the Navy, must be composed mainly of inorganic materials in order to endure temperatures abovo 200 F for extended periods. In addition, an acceptable insulation must exhibit I the following characteristics: 1, Low heat conductivity. # 2* Non-Combustibility. . 3# Lightweight. .4. Capability of easy molding and application. 5 Uoisture repellency. ` <*. 6. Non-corrosive, insoluble and chemically inert. ` 7. Composition, structure and characteristics must remain unchanged by temperature at which it is to be used. *V 7T*m frrrr tr\ tvf' 3j / 67(V, :'v, t-'.-rt 9370(KA-2iJ7) Scr 750 6, Must bo vermin proof, 9, The material und application cooto should bo economical, 10. The ideal insulation chould bo nontoxic and non-injuriouo to personnel during fabrication, installation, u.se, or rip-out, 11, Once installed, it should not cluster, become lumpy, disintegrate or build up in macaco from vibration. The Philadelphia Division of the Naval Ship Engineering Center has been assigned tasks to conduct a survey of suppliers of inculaxion to the Navy, to secure technical data literature, and to investigate radical research findings, safety manuals, and data on research being pursued by private industry intended to develop new or improved materials v/hich may be suitable for replacements for asbestos for piping, felts and lagging. The cooperation and support of industry for this study is earnestly solicited by this activity since the health of the worker is the concern of management, labor and the government. Accordingly, the Navy is desirous of obtaining information on the following: a. Are alternate non-asbestos containing materials available which may be used as thermal insulation pipe covering? The insulation must offer protection up to 750 F and be manufactured in cylindrical sections up to 3 feet long, and split in half lengthwise, " *. b. Are there any single layer or combination layered non-asbestos molded materials available which may be used as thermal insulation pipe covering for protection from 750 to 1200 F? , . c, Y/hat materials cay be substituted for asbestos insulating felt (plain or water repellent) for use on valves or other irregular surfaces and which are suitable for a range from cold water tern:enature to 900 F? ` - d. Yfhat non-asbestos containing cloth materials nay be used as a lagging Jacket over thermal insulation, or as a wrapping on engine eohaust pipes, or for piping or tubing, or on the inner and outer surfaces of removable covers and on flanges and valves from -5 F to 1050 F? . 0 e, What heat-resistant bonding materials ray be substituted for asbestos insulation finishing cement over block insulation and irregular surfaces where powdering during rip-out has been a problem? 9j/j(ia-;.v/) Cor 750 f, What safety precautions to prevent inhalation of dust are obocrvod during the manufacturing and processing of Insulation materials? g. Yfliat cafcty precautions aro recommended during tho Installation and replacement of insulating ratcrinlo to prevent the inhalation of aabectos fibers and duat? h. To what extent or degree will material and installation costs bo affected by the elimination or curtailment of the use of asbestos containing insulation? Due to the urgency of this undertaking, it is requested that the above information be for.vuraed at your earliest convenience to Dr. !.!. Anmuth, the project engineer of thi3 task, at the h'aval Ship Engineering Center, Philadelphia Division, 676/,, Philadelphia, ?a. 19112 (telephone nusibor (215) 755-5922). Informtion sub:aitted to the Philadelphia Division of the l!aval Ship Engineering Center will be utilized by the Kaval Ship Systems Command in promulgating a directive v.-hich will eliminate the use of materials and practices which are potentially hazardous to the health of insulation workers. This activity has been directed to complete the survey of insulation suppliers by 15 June 1959 to afford time for collation and personal contacts, if deemed necessary. Please be assured that any product composition and formulae submitted in response to this survey will be held in strict confidence and will be viewed as ax voluntary contribution to this perplexing problem to the insulation industry. It is understood that submission of information solicited by this activity will not obligate the government or its agencies in any manner whatsoever. Very truly yours. I J. W. MJRDOCX / Head, Applied Physics Department V NAVSECN0RDIV6603 . NAVSECPHILADIV 6700BQ1, 6712 . 6760, 6764(4)