Document b55Vpzn6LYVak3yvq85n5mmOg

dTMLY HIGHLIGHT REPORT - NOVEMBER 1970 RESEARCH 6 DEVELOPMENT DEPARTgNT INDPSTRIAL PRODUCTS DIVISION SECRET - COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL I. INDPSTRIAL PRODUCTS (South Bound Brook) A. FELTS AND PAPERS An R&D representative visited the Victor Gasket laboratory to discuss reported shortcomings in the last plant trial of an acrylonitrile asbestos formulation. Their new requirements! "stress relaxation" and "crush resistance", were described. Following this, modifi cations in formulation have been made to improve these properties and a machine trial is planned. Handsheet samples of a special, low-binder, acrylonitrile felt have been submitted to Detroit Gasketing for approval. If accepted, a plant run will be made. B. ASBESTOS COOLING TOWER PAPER Modifications of the cooling tower saturating paper formulation were made in the laboratory and a trial run of four rolls was successfully made at Erie for test runs in the Marley plant. They have advised that they desire to run the Erie material during the first week of December. C. AUTOMOTIVE Silicone rubber molds are being fabricated for the Ford wheelhouse cover parts which will be used to make production-size samples that they have requested for tests in '72 model cars. R&D is working with Engineering on the evaluation of a modified com pression molding system as an alternate to slush molding. Small scale laboratory tests employing this technique with molten mastic were encouraging. Lower manpower and higher production rates appear possible with this method and more work is planned. Studies are also underway to develop the best mold release coating for either method. D. THERMAL INSULATION An installation of asbestos free Calsilite has been made on a 800p exhaust stack at the South Bound Brook plant. Both single and double layer applications were made with regular Calsilite controls. R&D participated in a meeting in which the DuTont Company presented general information on a silicate foam process that they developed. The insulation has excellent appearance and strength properties. Small samples submitted are undergoing various tests. Intiial cost projections they have made appear somewhat high. If the physical characteristics appear satisfactory, however, a recommendation to sign their proposed secrecy agreement will be made so that their approach can be more fully evaluated. MICH08499