Document VKKBD9j8xQGzyrZpw4QrDZ828
FILE NAME: Garlock (GAR) DATE: 1969 May DOC#: GAR038 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letters between Johns-Manville and The Navy
Hay 23, 1969
Mr. . A. Schunuu
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Johns-Manville
22 Last 4cth Street
New York, New York. loulG
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cc: R. J?. Clark - Unixoyal, Inc. .
I. E. Moody - li. h. Porter Co
J. L. Rainey - American Asbestos Textile Co.
C. P. Weiss - Garlcck, Inc.
H. C. Roosevelt - Cadwalader, Vickersham b Taft
H. E. Sunbury - Asbestos Textile Institute
Dear Ed:
1 am attaching to this letter and to copies addressed to each member of the Board of Governors of the A.T.l. a copy of a letter sent to K/rl by JIT. J. V. Murdock, Head, Applied Physics epartment from the Deportracnt of the Navy, Philadelphia. It would seen that everyone has seeu it by now but since it seens so important to all of us, 1 send it as a precautionary measure.
We certainly will place this subject on the agenda ox the dales. Promotion Committee for the June 19th meeting at deaview. At the same time, nay I respectfully request that you make the letter available to the ihvironental Study Committee who would also be most vitally concerned. We believe that some fora of action should be taken by the Institute in the fora of a protest at the earliest opportunity. Cliff Shecklcr's group could certainly advise us in this area.
At the same tine, Raybestos-Manhattan intends to reply independably 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
M. v. o cover ait ec
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NAVAL
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
S H IP EN G INEERING CENTER. PH ILA D ELPH IA PHILADELPHIA. PA. 19112
D IVISIO N
IN (ICPIY ftcrc* TO
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'5 MAYSGS
Ray;x;stos^'.h.nl'.attun Incarcerated 61 V/illett Street Passaic, Nov/ Jersey 07055
Gentlemen :
Re: Proposed Insulating Materials for naval Vessels
The serious hazards of asbestos have recently received vricespraad publicity and have generated a high level of interest concerning its use by the U. S. Navy as an Insulating material. There are r.any varied uses of asbestos in the Navy but the cost 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 such as fabrication, installation and especially during rip-out.
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In order to minimise the hazards associated with the use of asbestos
ar.d therefore reduce the possibility of deleterious effects to the workers, '
a comprehensive study has been initiated by the Naval Ship rhigineering
Center, Kyattsville; l!d., to investigate the feasibility of substituting
alternate raterials for asbestos used as lagging, piping and boiler insula
tion. High tcr.perr.ture insulation, as used by the Navy, rust be couponed
m.airly of inorganic rata rials in order to endure temperatures above 200 F
for extended.periods. In addition, an acceptable insulation must exhibit
the following characteristics:
1. Low heat conductivity.
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2. Non-combustibility.
3. Lightweight.
4. Capability of easy molding and application.
5. Moisture repellcncy.
6. Non-corrosive/ insoluble and chemically inert.
7. Composition, structure and characteristics must remain unchanged by temperature at which it is to be used.
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6764:1/A: dint 9390(FA-2C7)' Ser 750
8. liist be vermin proof.
9. The materiel and application costs should be economical.
10. The ideal insulation should be nontomic and non-injurious to personnel during fabrication, installation, use, or rip-out.
11. Cnee installed, it should not cluster, become lumpy, disintegrate or build up in masses from vibration.
The Philadelphia Division of the lavai Sinip Engineering Center has teen assigned tasks to conduct a survey of suppliers of insulation to the Navy, to secure technical data literature, and to investigate medical research findings, safety manuals, and data on research being pursued by private industry intended to develop new or improved materials which 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 v Kavy 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 v/hich may to used as thermal insulation pipe
covering for protection from 750 to 1200 F?
c.
V/hat materials may 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 tensersture
to 900 F?
d.
V/hat non-asbestos containing cloth materials may be used as
a lagging jacket over thermal insulation, or as a wrapping on engine
exhaust 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?
e. V/hat heat-resistant bonding materials may bo substituted for asees ton insulation finishing cement over block insulation and irregular surfaces whore powdering during rip-out has been a problem?
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f . Vihat safety precautions to prevent inhalation of duct are observed during the r.nnufacturi:ig and processing of insulation materials?
g. "/hat safety precautions are recommended during the installation and replacement of insulating materials to prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibers and dust?
h.
To "hat extent or degree v/ill material and installation costs
be 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.varded at your earliest convenience to Dr. M. Anmuth, the project engineer of this task, at the Naval Ship Engineering Center, Philadelphia Division, 6764, Philadelphia, Pa. 19112 (telephone number (213) 755-3922). Information submitted to the Philadelphia Division of the Naval Ship Engineering Center " ill be "utilized by the Naval ,Ship Systems Command in promulgating a directive which 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 1969 to afford time for
-ion 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 a 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,
CJJ. W. .3JRD0CX
Head, Applied Physics Department
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