Document Mo0JYZ4y5gX6rx4oxyxYeJomy

X \ Research Center -* PLAINTIFFS May 26* 1952 I*- EXHIBIT Files 425-7a-l CSR-HiSr! S. Collier - G.H. (10) Transits Pipe Process Study Plant Experimental Run of Australian Blue Fiber Substituted for M3 Blue in Blend M-360 Task Force Report No, 19 The Task Force investigation to date indicates the following answers to Mr. C. 7. Miller's letter of May 14* 1952 on the subject of "Australian Blue Fiber." These results are preliminary and incomplete and represent less than 2 weeks of evaluation* but are given here in accordance with your request for the maximum amount of available information on Australian Blue by Hay 26* 1952. Mr. M. S. Badollet has answered the first two questions and the Task Force investigation was concentrated primarily on questions 3 through 6 inclusive. The data has been obtained from one 6 hour run on ManviUe's No. 2 machine* sag cake work in the Task Force Laboratory and sag cake work in the Transits Pipe Seotion of the Research Center. It should be emphasized that the Investigations are all preliminary and might not be.confirmed by further tests. , Question 3* "Would Blue Asbestos Fiber* shorter than either the African or ' Australian types now being used* be satisfactory for use in Transits Pipe?" . ^ Answer 3s Although no Blue fibers other than MS Blue and Australian No. 3 Blue were used for test* it would appear desirable to investigate the possibilities of using a shorter grade Blue fiber in Translte Pipe. Cape MX Blue was observed being used in asbestos cement pipe in Italy in 1950 and there is no reason to believe that it could not be Incorporated into Translte pipe in this country. Question 4* "What is the value to our company of using Australian Blue in Transit Pipe either as a partial or 100^ substitute for Cape *S"?n Answer 4* * Results of the trial run on Manville's No. 2 machined showed that Australian No. 3 Blue could be substituted for MS Blue in blend M-360-1 and used as a 25 per cent mix* without any ctyrngaa. in machine operation or forming rate. Destruction tests on ^the 6-in. 150 pipe manufactured during the trial run showed the ultimate strength and net recovery to be approximately the same for either MS Blue or Australian No. 3 Blue* although the ultimate strength for pipe made with Australian No. 3 Blue was slightly lower than for that made with 16 Blue. This lower strength was verified by sag cake tests run in the Task Force Laboratory using the fiber blends run on the machine. Task Force Report No. 19 -2- May 26, 1952 Results of the Sag Cake Tests are Summarized in the Following Table No. of Cakes Filter Time (sec.) Water Retention Before Pressing Water Retention After Pressing Thickness (in.) MR, pal M-360-1 (MS Blue) M-360-1A (Australian Blue) 20 20 60 42.3* 25.8* 0.259 4310 <T" 184 57 35.5* 24.4* 0.251 '. 3540 CT* 365 All of the above work was done on fiber which was given only one pass through the willow and was used as a 25 per cent mix* From examination of the M-360-1 and M-360-1A fiber it appeared that the Australian Blue was not being opened and dispersed throughout the blend comparable to MS Blue. This fact was further borne out in the sag cake work conducted by the Transits Pipe Section of the Research Center. Sag cake data to date at the Research Center shows Australian No. 3 Blue with one-pass through the Rammer Mill to have its strength, 4190 psi. At the 20 per cent level* Comparable value for IS Blue with one-pass through the Rammer.Hill showed its maximum strength of 4120 psi developed at 25 per cent level. Partial results from further tests are given below* Blend Type Blue * Hammer Mill Fiber Processing Prior Percentage Sag Cake To Blending in Sag Cake MR 20$ Blue 80$ 4M23 Standard M-62 Blend 30$ Blue 70$ Vimy Australian No. 3 * MS Blue 10 passes 1 pass 20* 4500 psi 20$ 3800 psi * Further sag cake teats are being conducted in the evaluation of the Australian Blue, since the data to date seems to indicate possibilities for the fiber if given additional processing prior to treatment as a blend. After thorough investigation a financial analysis would have to determine the value to JohnsManville of using Australian Blue. Task Force Beport No. 19 -3- May 26 ? 1952 Question 5* "In view of the fact that the delivered price of CSG #3 fiber at Manville amounts to $348 compared to $355 for Australian No. 3, would it be advantageous to substitute Australian for the CdG #3f especially in view of the fact that we have no real need for the CSfi #4 which must be purchased along with the Cfifi #3?" Answer 5s C&G #3 has not been- available for the manufacture of Transite pipe for over 6 months. To date* no tests have been conducted to determine the effect of substituting Australian No. 3 Blue for C #3$ although? baaed on the data given in answer to question No. 4$ the substitution is apparently possible. Further laboratory tests and a financial analysis would have to determine the economic advantages? if any? in making the substitution. Question 6s "Could Australian Blue No. 1 and No. 2 be used in Transite Pipe as is? or? if not? could they be processed into a satisfactory fiber for Transite Pipe?" Answer 6i Difficulty was encountered in making sag cakes with straight Australian No. 3 Blue after one-pass through the Hammer Hill. The long fibers wrapped around and balled up the mixing impeller. It appears that the use of a longer fiber? grade 1 or 2? in Transite Pipe manufacture would result in fouled pump impellers? strings on the agitators? and would not be conducive to steady machine operation. The results to date are all based on preliminary tests and do not give conclusive evidence that the use of Australian No. 3 Blue fiber as a replacement for MS Blue -in Transite pipe is either ah' advantage or disadvantage. Additional sag cakes work is being conducted at theJFask Force Laboratory and the Hesearch Center. The attached Task Force :fieport No* 19 covers the preliminary plant run of standard blend M-360-1 with Australian Blue substituted for K3 Blue. 00* . H. Williams G. B. 'Brown Task. Force* P. D. Cannon - G.H. K. J. Whalen - G.H. P, B; Proctor - G.H. R. Nehel - G.H. A. R, Girardi - G.H, (4) H. J. 0*Brien - Manville A. H. Schilling - Manville A, Del Rocco - Manville H. E, Richards - Manville G, Smolak J. Q. Trice -The Task, Force by* D* Nowlin