Document MR4NYLo5OD2G7wzYGvZbmp0L

THE AMPHIBOLES INTRODUCTION The commercially significant amphiboles are Crocidolite and Amosite and I will deal only v;i rh em. Si ide The amphiboles have the same monoclinic crystal structure. The main difference between them is that Amosite has a high magnesium content which in Crocidolite has been replaced by sodium. HISTORY CHANGING USAGE REASONS FOR USAGEJN ASBESTOS-CE.MEMT Crocidolite. was first produced in 1392 and Amosite in 1907 and have been in continuous production since then. The pattern of usage ever the years has chanced substantially and the historical sales pattern is worth looking at. I shall deal with Crocidolite first. Slide 2 1965 - 1971 : Demand increased in line wit the overall demand for asbestos internationa 1972 - 1977 : There was a sharp increase i demand from 1972 to 1974 in line with the upturn in the asbestos cement industry and demand remained high in 1975 to 1977 with considerable overstocking taking place. CAPCO JEN 0000509 2 Initially destocking contributed re declining sales v.'hiie in the latter years, decline in demand was the result of 1; economic activitv in in many developing countries Crocicoiite is now almost exclusively used in asbestos cement pipes. While there is a view that Crocidolite is only essential in large diameter pipes, the fact is that the value of Blue in many differen aspects of pipe ar.d sheet production is so area that it v.-ouid be badly missed by those who have come to rely on 31ue for all types and diameters of pipes and by these using Blue in sheets. The reasons for Blue's importance to the asbest.es cement furnish are : (1) It adds strength - Blue has the tensile strength of all types of asbestos and relatively it has the highest average reinforcing strength (2) It imoroves filtration and therefore rates of production (3) / CAPCO JEN 0000510 (3) It improves the vet strength, and thus reduces the tendency of newly-formed pipes to deform in the early stages of curing. This is very much a matter c control of the moisture content of the green product which is achieved throuc the ce-watering properties of the am.phiboles . The use of Blue for other applications has decreased substantially over the years and has become relatively unimportant : Slice 4 (1) Blue is no longer used in spray for heat and accoustic insulation or in air filtration and gas .171 c: S K 3 (2) There has been a decline in the use of Blue in sealants and textiles and the tonnages used in these fields are in any event small. Slide 5 / ------- CAPCO JEN 0000511 7 Slice 5 i;ow, looking au the historic picture of Ainosite sales : 1955 - 1975 : Demand increased steadily with growth of the Amosite-based, low density, fire-resistant, insulation board increasing to replace less of consumption in general insulation. 1975 - 1979 : Decline in sales reflects the introduction of non-asbestos insulation board and the worldwide.recession. IS SO : Demand has again increased despite the recession because restraint on real price increases assisted by a concerted technical/ marketing drive has led to increased demand for 7-jncsite in asbestos cement products. Slide 6 Amosite is now mainly used in asbestos cement, sheet and pipes, although historically it's main use was in low density, fire-resistant, insulation boards. CAPCO JEN 0000512 The reasons for it's increasing -esses in asl:;estos cement. despite the fact _hat it* s reinforcing strength is less than Crocidolite, and only in the middle range of Chrysotiles, are thar : (1) It's filtration rate is very much higher than Chrysotile, and indeed Blue; in fact up to 5 times the filtration efficiency of Chrysotile. (2) 7\s in the case of Blue, vet strength is improved. (3) It aids' in the dispersion, or even distribution of Chrysotile fibre in the product, thereby maximising the ccst effectiveness of the fibre furnish. (4) It makes for cleaner back-water by reducing the quantity of solids passing from the sieve cylinder into the back-water, thereby improving yield productivity and cost effectiveness. (5) / CAPCO JEN 0000513 L (5) The high bulk volume of .-m,os ice has been the major rssscr, for it's use in light-weight, insulation products and the same property can be made use of in asbestos cement sheet manufacture to control density which is especially important in a short Chrysotile fibre furnish. HEALTH pong|mwo * nooU-i iu Slice 6 Of crucial importance to the amphibole mining industry, and indeed to the asbestos cement industry, is the-question of -whether Crocicolite and Amcsite represent a relatively greater hazard than Chrvsotile. Slide 9: Many medical experts (particularly in the UK) ana Legislators in the EEC have the view that Blue reoresents a particular hazard. However, many other "equally expert" experts do not agree. One must bear in mind the particularly uncontrolled and high exposure circumstances that gave rise to the unfortunate statistics which were experienced and upon which much of current opinion is based. CAPCO JEN 0000514 7 .ice 10 The suppliers or fibre producers carciot give a ruling on the scientific findings and hypotheses. However, vs take the position that Blue ana Amosite can be used safely in asbestos cement, and such specialised uses that remain, if precautions are applied and a 2 fibre standard is achieved. There should be no discrimination of one fibre against another as it is not proven that fibre for fibre (i.e. at the same exposure level) Blue is more or less dangerous than Chrysotile. CROC!POLITE - EFFECT OF REGULATION Slice 11 A general 0,2 f/nl limit or a ban (even with some dispensation) dees represent a serious threat to the industry. It also would be a serious handicap to asbestos cement producers across all pipe diameters. CAPCO JEN 0000515 Slice 12 Soir.e major r.aaufncturers have developed highly successful asbestos cement, pipe and sheet technology around Chrysotile and Amosite, using Amosite's particular properties, while some use a mix of Blue and Amosite for the anphibole portion of the furnish as originally suggested some 35 years ago by an Italian manufacturer as the ideal fibre blend for pressure pipes. AMOS ITE - EFFECT OF REGULATION Slide 13 The 0,5 f/ml standard suggested in some quarters would also be a severe limitation on the use of Amosite. This must be resisted not only because it not v;arra .u.ed, bu_ if only on the entirely ical grou nds that it would not be possible to monitor this level with any precision. FUTURE Slide 14 The future of the ainphibole industry is entirely dependent on the future of the asbestos cement industry, which in turn is dependent upon the environmental issue. CAPCO JEN 0000516 c The amphibole production industry believes in the future of the asbestos cement industry. Asbestos cement is forecast to grow as i.t becomes more cost effective against energy hungry competitive products and as developing countries expand their infrastructures. At the same time there is a greater awareness of the benefits of Amcsite, and of course of Slue, in producing a more cost effective end product. It must be stressed that asbestos cement products cannot be manufactured from amphiboles only and, therefore, w;e are an additive industry, complementary to C'nrysotile, the rain element of an asbestos cement furnish. However, there is a degree of inter-dependence in that without amphibols the asbestos cement industry would become less cost effective which, in the increasingly substitute oriented and competitive end product market, would reduce Chrysotile demand. CAPCO JEN 0000517 I believe that Anphibole and Chrysotile producers should work c.lcsely together on production technology and dust suppression, on development of the asbestos cement industry against competitive substitutes, and also in the defence of asbestos in the current war against asbestos as a whole and amphibole in particular. The industry must take a more aggressive and active role in defending its product. To let Crocidolite go to the wall as the UK has done is,not going to help anyone end product costs will increase in most cases - environmentalists will r.o't cease their campaign against asbestos even if all the Crocidolite mines in the world closed permanently. After all, it would remove only 2% of the world' s production^-tslir-Jbe It is unjustifiable to eliminate a useful material to the community because of the sins of the past. While asbestos is a hazardous material, it can be handled and used safely. CAPCO JEN 0000518 Slice 17 The Blue ling industry as a whole has substantial reserves to i ace the future, and indeed expand product ion further, should demand warrant it. Our Anosite mine at Pence also has an extremely long life at current production levels and indeed production will be expanded as demand dictates. Slide 18 In order to confirm and demonstrate confidence in amphiboles, I would like to show you two slides of our new mill at Fomfret which was brought on stream in 1978. This mill has a capacity of 30 000 tons. Slides of Pomfret Kew Mill Despite the present recession, this mill is currently being expanded and will ultimately have a capacity of between 70 000 - cO COO tons, all of which will be produced at a less than 2 f/cc fibre concentration. This expansion will n;ore than replace the capacity lest in closing down Pomfret's old mill. The project will be completed early next year. S1iae of Pence Mine CAPCO JEN 0000519 5BEST0S PRODUCTION WORLD ASEESTCS F'RCDUCT.ON ASBESTOS PRICES CAPCO JEN 0000520 1981 - CONSOLATION D'AM!ANTE DANS LE MONDE 50% - CONSOfNATION EN U.R.S.S. ET EUROPE DE L-'EST CAPCO JEN 0000521 - 1981 v .. REPARTITION DES'VENTES LAQ PAR.USAGE CAPCO JEN 0000522