Document Mr81xaEqXk2w3Mbv98R7pEJj

David M. Klein 10000094 f iL- I /' ^ INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE Mr. J.F. Murphy Jr. To: Lexington Polyfibron Division. Subject: Asbestos Replacements. From: R.S. Potter Copies To: PAH, PHS, DLW, JWP, JFK. DLH, (\ / i Date: October 30, 1980 . t* I \ r'lA'j- Paul stibbe has asked me to answer your October 17, 1980, noytea +t-o/" Khiimm 'f / regarding our program for asbestos replacement. As Lead Project Engineer, Dave Klein had given me this project when I first started with the company eight months ago. Our progress to date has been to change material of seven different standard^ v-"S seals of the racetrack gasket, tadpole tape, rope, and gasket types, from } ; s : asbestos to kevlar. However, kevlar is not the complete answer to asbestos S* : substitution. It has limitations of a maximum temperature limit of 600 F, J ^ ' V,' low abrasion resistance and high price. We are using fiberglass for some ;v special applications now, and we expect to standardize on fiberglass for -V raany of our 32 total standard seals. The lack of availability of asbestos r > replacement materials in the form and properties we need for our seals has \ \ , forced us to continue use of asbestos seals in some areas. However, we are'>^'-A< f making progress, and even though we may not be free and clear of asbestos ' usage in 1980, I feel that all 32 seals will be changed by mid 1981. ^. I am attaching two interesting magazine articles on this subject - one on the general problems in industry with asbestos substitutes, and another on a promising new material, PBI, which may be the "asbestos" of the future. v- rv R.S. Potter Lead Project Engineer -) Si J n. *V X/1 \ \ / j10000095 ) * / December 16, 1980 TEC Systems, Inc. P. 0. Box 30 DePere, WI 54115 fv PCM l- v o LC13 >333 GASKETS, SMC. P.O. BOX 398 RIO, WISCONSIN 53960 Phone (414) 992-3137 Attn: Lynn Larsen Lynn: The reason for the letter is to explain a situation we now have regarding two of our products, namely G/l-77 & G/l-91. The G/l-77 cloth is a AAAA grade asbestos and is used in tadpole styles using the number twelve (example :G/l-T-12C-10) To get to the point, this material has been white in color but now is available only in yellow. I've argued to no avail that this could now be confused with our KEVLAR cloth which is very similar in color. As you know, the number fifteen signifies KEVLAR in tadpole. (example :G/l-T-15CBS-6.5) j I I / I We have the same situation with our woven tapes. Style G/l-F-012-10 will now be yellow rather than white. G/l-F-015-6.5 (KEVLAR tape) is also yellow in color. j j 1 I'm enclosing samples of the two cloths to show you the similarity in color. In closing, the thing to remember is that 12 means AAAA as bestos and 15 means our KEVLAR (non-asbestos) cloth. Via UPS today, I'm sending you a sample of something else more amber in color. i. I wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season and New Year. A' VBob I sg Products and uccessones tor wherever heat is used in industry 10000096 INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE To: From: Date: Mr. J.F. Murphy Jr. Lexington Polyfibron Division. October 30, 1980 Subject: Asbestos Replacements Copies To DMK, PHS, JWP, DLH, TAH, DLW, JFK. Paul Stibbe has asked me to answer your October 17, 1980, note to him regarding our program for asbestos replacement. As Lead Project Engineer, Dave Klein had given me this project when I first started with the company eight months ago. Our progress to date has been to change material of seven different standard seals of the racetrack gasket, tadpole tape, rope, and gasket types, from asbestos to kevlar. However, kevlar is not the complete answer to asbestos substitution. It has limitations of a maximum temperature limit of 600 F, low abrasion resistance and high price. We are using fiberglass for some special applications now, and we expect to standardize on fiberglass for many of our 32 total standard seals. The lack of availability of asbestos replacement materials in the form and properties we need for our seals has forced us to continue use of asbestos seals in some areas. However, we are making progress, and even though, we may not be free and clear of asbestos usage in 1980, I feel that all 32 seals will be changed by mid 1981. I am attaching two interesting magazine articles on this subject - one on the general problems in industry with asbestos substitutes, and another on a promising new material, PBI, which may be the "asbestos" of the future. / R.S. Potter Lead Project Engineer RSPrams 10000097