Document XmDxRY5MgmKwk5yEXYqaa2OJ

yJ"- " t UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DIVISION CENTRAL ENGINEERING SOUTH CHARLESTON. WEST VIRGINIA MEMORANDUM January 3, 1985 To: M. E. Carter - 510 cc. R. C. Ellis J. L. Riffle R. W. Engle A. W. Kenne - 510 J. M. McBride - 510 D. T. Watters E. C. Powell, Jr. G. B. Elder C. C. Neely W. G. Ashbaugh U- ASBESTOS GASKETS This is in response to your letter of December 18, 1984 on the above subject directed to E. C. Powell, Jr. In^itour letter you asked if we should consider using Flexitallic Flexitem filler in their spiralwound gaskets. First, let me state that our valve and piping specifications currently specify both compressed asbestos and asbestos-filled spiralwound gaskets. We have no plans to eliminate asbestos as a gasket and packing material. Asbestos fibers in these items are incapsulated and do not present the health hazard of asbestos in other items. Second, extensive laboratory and service testing of asbestosfree materials as possible replacements for asbestos gaskets and packing would be necessary to establish the suitability of the asbestos-free materials from both a mechanical and a fluid-servicesuitability standpoint. We do not see the necessity of giving any priority to such testing, although some testing has been done. (Some of it has indicated that asbestos-free materials are defi nitely not replacements for asbestos.) Actually, I requested our MOC materials laboratory some time ago to test Flexite'M. They have not scheduled the testing yet. UCC 010604 UC-4235